Where They Stand: Health Care

But because it would cover more people, it would cost at least four times as much as the Bush plan — $650 billion over 10 years, by the campaign's own estimate.

The Bush campaign estimates the president's health care plan would cost about $158 billion over 10 years.

"The Kerry proposal does not cut costs overall. In fact, in truth it would have to increase it because it covers more people who will then use health care they didn't use before," says Princeton's Reinhardt.

Critics say Kerry's ideas merely redistribute the cost of health care in America.

"The Kerry plan isn't actually going to save health care costs. For a lot of people, it is going to reduce what they pay for health insurance premiums, but the cost didn't go away. The costs are just turned into higher taxes," said Antos.

Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs

As for prescription drugs, Bush takes credit for signing a bill to lower prescription drug prices for seniors under Medicare. Most of the changes in that bill take effect in 2006.

Many Democrats said the bill did not go far enough in providing relief, but independent analysts say it will help seniors — particularly those with lower incomes or catastrophic prescription drug costs.

Kerry offers his own ideas about lowering the price of prescriptions. The Massachusetts senator would allow the federal government to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers on behalf of Medicare patients. He proposes to allow re-importation of prescription drugs from other countries, such as Canada. And he promises to speed generic drugs to the market.

Analysts say Kerry's proposals would likely make a difference in drug prices if they became law.

However, passing any new health care or prescription drug policy through Congress is a difficult prospect.