Tries to match what most Americans get now from their employer. Includes prescription drugs and limited mental-health coverage.

Republicans have not vet presented their benefit packages, but all proposals will likely be more modest than Clinton’s. Under the Chafee-Dole plan, a national commission would decide on benefits.

The White House abandon some benefits. Pharmaceutical firms have powerful lobbies; the White House is squishy on mental health, where costs are difficult to estimate.

Requires employers to pay 80 percent of employees’ insurance premiums. Government would subsidize small business, the unemployed and the poor. Employers could deduct the cost of insurance from their taxes. After 2000, employees would pay tax on any coverage above the Clinton core-benefits package.

Employers would have to offer a group plan at work but wouldn’t be required to pay the premiums. Chafee-Dole would require all Americans to have health insurance, but vouchers, not subsidies, would bring the poor into the system.

Both sides make a principled stand before compromising on employer-paid premiums phased in over a long period.

Hopes to cut $238 billion from Medicare and Medicaid over five years. Will try to raise $65 billion with hike in tobacco tax; additional $30 billion–$40 billion will come from big business.

No new taxes. Lesser amounts gleaned from Medicare/Medicaid.

Cigarettes up to $3.50 a pack. Narrow reductions in Medicare Medicaid.

Most consumers would buy health care through statewide or regional health alliances, which would broker the best deals with “health plans” doctors and hospitals offering comprehensive care through their own associations.

Republicans are of several minds: Chafee-Dole and the House GOP plan see competing insurance pools, aimed at making insurance affordable for small business. Gramm envisages no pools, but tax-free savings accounts–medical IRAs–out of which insurance premiums could be paid.

nybody’s guess.

Limits on insurance premiums would restrict spending, with National Health Board ready to step in to enforce a global budget. May regulate fees of doctors who don’t join HMOs.

Depend solely on competition, malpractice reform and cutting paperwork to slow spending. Expect to see: Targets, not enforceable limits, for overall spending and for insurance premiums.

Begins in 1995; entire package phased in by 1997. More benefits added in 2000.

Chafee-Dole plan begins in 1995, but phases in over a longer period.

Implementation by 2000.