FACTBOX -- Health care plans of presidential candidates

(Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain this week outlined a proposal to provide Americans with a refundable $2,500 tax credit as an incentive to buy health insurance.

McCain's plan offers voluntary solutions to fixing health care in the country, where high costs have left millions unable to pay for health insurance. Several other candidates have also suggested how they would provide coverage for the 47 million people in the United States without health insurance. Following are some health care proposals from the leading candidates.

DEMOCRATS

* New York Sen. Hillary Clinton

Her plan, estimated to cost about $110 billion per year, would require all Americans to get health insurance. Under a public-private partnership, they would keep existing coverage or choose from private insurance options members of Congress receive. Individuals may also choose a public plan similar to Medicare.

Creates new federal subsidies for those who can't afford coverage and imposes new mandates on large employers to provide health insurance or help pay for it. Small business will receive tax breaks to provide health coverage.

Forces insurance companies to give coverage to everyone, ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. Drug companies would also be required to offer fair prices.

* Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards

Proposal also requires health insurance for all and is estimated to cost about $120 billion per year. It forces private companies, government and individuals to share responsibility for obtaining coverage. Creates new tax credits, expands Medicaid and the federal-state children's health insurance plan, and takes steps to contain health care costs.

Creates regional Health Care Markets, or purchasing pools to give Americans the option of buying into a health care plan, increases choices among insurance plans and cuts costs for businesses offering insurance to employees.

* Illinois Sen. Barack Obama

His plan provides health coverage for almost all Americans. Creates national public insurance program to allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health care similar to that available to federal employees. No one will be turned way or charged more due to illness and everyone who needs it will receive a subsidy for their premiums.

Requires all employers to contribute toward health coverage for their employees or toward the cost of the public plan. Creates a national health insurance exchange to reform the private insurance market.

Mandates that all children have health care coverage.

* New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson

Plan calls for coverage for every American. Working families and small businesses will be able to purchase coverage through the same plan as members of Congress. It guarantees all Americans can choose to keep current coverage or obtain coverage through an existing program.