McCain talks health care during trip to Cleveland

CLEVELAND (AP) — Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain explained his plan to provide a $5,000 refundable tax credit for families to seek their own health care at a campaign stop Thursday at the Cleveland Clinic research hospital.

McCain’s appearance in Cleveland was his second stop in heavily Democratic Northeast Ohio in 10 days.

He has been discussing his health-care proposals on a cross-country swing this week and held a town-hall-style meeting Thursday on the Cleveland Clinic campus. The hospital also arranged a tour to show off new medical technologies.

McCain said under his plan, families aren’t confined to the state of Ohio for health insurance, which would force the insurance companies to compete more effectively.

“They would be able to go across state lines and shop online or anywhere in America and purchase a health-insurance policy that suits them and their needs best,” he said.