The Democratic Party’s presidential nominee Barack Obama is preparing to launch, as part of his campaign, a new TV commercial in battleground states, which is aimed at showing voters that his counter-candidate John McCain’s health care plan is not what the United States needs.

The ad informs on McCain’s intention to substantially reduce Medicare and Medicaid premiums in order to pay for his plan to reform the U.S. health care system.

Medicare, a social insurance program administered by the United States government, provides health insurance coverage to the elderly, through its four parts that focus on hospital stays, outpatient medical care, private insurance plans and prescription drug plans, respectively.

Medicaid is the U.S. health program for those with low income, funding poor people for medical and health-related services.

Obama’s ad reveals that the GOP’s nominee would be cutting benefits and eligibility criteria for the aforementioned programs alike, the commercial’s announcer ominously stating in the end that the United States cannot afford John McCain.

Both Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s health care plans have given rise to heated debates, since the two are at odds on almost every aspect, except for the fact the current system needs to undergo some major altering.

The Republican concentrates on offering tax credits to those who choose private health insurance, having stated the money would amount to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families, while the Democrat targets medium and large companies, that according to his plan, would be required to provide their employees with insurance or otherwise pour a tax into a fund for the uninsured.