McCain makes health care policy speech in Tampa

Sen. John McCain speaks this morning at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute in Tampa. [CARRIE PRATT | Times]

TAMPA -- In a talk at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute this morning, Sen. John McCain railed against government-funded universal health care, instead proposing to give patients more insurance choices to promote market competition and lower prices.

"The key to real reform is to restore control of the health care system to the patients themselves," he said.

A key provision proposed by McCain would be a $2,500 tax credit for individuals and a $5,000 tax credit for families to buy insurance independent of their employers.

Buying health insurance this way would allow people to take their plans and doctors with them, even when switching jobs, he said. "They'll have a medical home again, dealing with doctors that know and care about them," he said.

McCain didn't offer specifics on how to care for those with pre-existing conditions, but was firm on one point. "I won't create another entitlement program that Washington will let get out of control," he said.

McCain also talked about the need for medical malpractice reform, saying he would start with not allowing lawsuits against doctors that follow best practice guidelines.

Before his speech, the presumptive Republican nominee met with Moffitt researchers, toured the facility's research labs and visited several stations. He and his wife, Cindy, looked at colon cancer cells under a microscope and visited a researcher who was trying to induce normal cell deaths in cancer cells.

Later today, McCain will attend a fundraiser.

Janet Zink, Times staff writer