Portland Press Herald - "Allen Offers Health-Care Proposal That's A Blend of Private and Public

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Portland Press Herald - "Allen Offers Health-Care Proposal That's A Blend of Private and Public

Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, who hopes to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins on Nov. 4, unveiled a health-care plan Wednesday that would combine private insurance with new and expanded government programs to provide coverage for all Americans, at an annual cost of $75 billion to $100 billion.

Allen described the plan as offering universal health care, but it is not a single-payer system like those that exist in Canada and some other countries.

He said winding down the war in Iraq and other changes in federal policies could free up enough money to cover the cost of the publicly funded portion of his proposal.

"I think this is a practical way to get universal coverage in a country where people like choices," Allen said during a news conference at the Little Dolphin School, a nonprofit preschool whose executive director, Steven Brier, praised Allen for creatively blending public and private solutions to the nation's health-care problems.

Allen said his proposal would allow already insured Americans to retain their current policies if they choose to do so, while simultaneously offering Americans a government-run Healthy Americans Program offering quality, affordable coverage similar to that provided to members of Congress.

Under the plan, Americans enrolled in private or public insurance programs would not lose their insurance if they change jobs, move to another state or undergo changes in their health, Allen said. Parents would be allowed to cover their children up to age 25 under their family plans.

People between the ages of 55 and 65 would be allowed to buy into Medicare, which now serves people 65 and older, as well as disabled people younger than 65.

The plan would expand the government-funded Medicaid program and the State Childrens' Health Insurance Program, commonly known as SCHIP, to insure more children and more low-income families.

Private insurers would have to compete for business on the basis of cost and quality, according to Allen. He said the federal government would pick up "some portion of the cost of catastrophic claims" and provide a refundable tax credit for small businesses.

Felicia Knight, Collins' deputy campaign manager, declined comment on Allen's plan. But Jen Burita, a spokeswoman for Collins, released a summary of a health-care bill that Collins has co-sponsored.

That bill, which is under review in Congress, would expand access to affordable health care for small businesses, individuals and families; increase funding for health centers; and improve access to health care in rural areas, according to the summary.

It also would make long-term care more affordable, promote healthier lifestyles and change the Medicare payment rules to help rural states such as Maine.

Collins "believes that we must build on our current public programs and private health care system to achieve the goal of affordable, quality health coverage for every American," Burita said in a statement.

She said Collins co-wrote the law creating the SCHIP program for children.

Allen said his plan could be partially funded by bringing American troops home from Iraq, where the United States is spending $12 billion per month.

He said reducing overpayments in the Medicare Advantage program could save $149 billion over 10 years, and forcing the federal government to negotiate lower prescription prices for Medicare Part D would save billions more annually.

"Health care has been the domestic issue on which I have concentrated most of my attention" as a congressman, Allen said. Conceding that his plan would be expensive, he said it is "simply unfair for 47 million people not to have access" to insurance while millions more are under-insured.

Allen said his plan targets specific needs in Maine, including the difficulties small businesses face in insuring employees, the importance of ensuring access in rural areas and the plight of middle-class families and individuals who cannot afford insurance.

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