toledoblade.com --

Democrat John Kerry outlined a comprehensive plan to overhaul the nation's health care insurance program yesterday during a steamy afternoon meeting with 375 people at the Chester J. Zablocki Senior Center on Lagrange Street, his fourth presidential campaign visit to Toledo this year.

Promoting a plan that would have the federal government take over from private insurers the expenses of cases that exceeded $50,000 in medical costs, the challenger said he would allow companies to claim tax write-offs for up to 50 percent of insurance premiums for employees. In addition, medical malpractice liability reform would limit damage awards, a provision that also plays a key role in the health care reform proposal offered by President Bush.

Mr. Kerry, a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, did not offer a price tag for his program but said he could pay for it with a rollback of the Bush tax cuts enacted for those who earn more than $200,000 per year.

"We take the catastrophic cases off your backs. You won't pay for them. It lowers your premiums dramatically, $1,000 per family. We're also going to cover children. All children in America will be covered immediately. But most importantly, we are going to do what we should have done a whole long time ago," he said. "We're going to let any American who wants to buy in to the same health care plan that presidents and vice presidents and senators and congressmen get."

Mr. Kerry charged that Mr. Bush has "chosen to hurt seniors" by not allowing the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs as a component of the recently passed Medicare reform bill, which added a drug benefit.

"When I'm president, I'm sending that bill back to Congress" for revision, he said.

We share health care costs "in a far more effective manner," Mr. Kerry said of his plan. "George Bush has offered no plan to lower the cost of health care in America."

Sen. John Kerry is saluted by Wood County Commissioner Alvie Perkins, third from left, state Sen. Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo), and others as he arrives at Toledo Express Airport yesterday.
( THE BLADE/DON SIMMONS )

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Bush campaign spokesman Kevin Madden disagreed yesterday, saying Mr. Bush has offered several proposals to address rising health care costs, in addition to a medical malpractice liability reform plan.

He said the President has suggested establishing tax-advantaged medical savings accounts to offset the costs of medical care, opening hundreds of community and rural health centers for the poor or disadvantaged, and allowing associations of small businesses, civic, or religious groups to band together to seek lower group premiums.

Mr. Kerry said his "health care plan is a not a government plan, it is not a plan that forces you to do anything. You choose your own doctor. You choose your own plan. You choose not to be a part of my plan."

Cecelia Carter of Toledo is all for Senator Kerry's plan because she doesn't know how much longer she can keep sharing her medications with her brother.

Diagnosed with schizophrenia, she must take several expensive medications. Though she lost her job and the health insurance that went along with it, she was able to get on Medicaid, which covers the cost of her medications.

But her brother isn't so lucky. Also diagnosed with schizophrenia but unable to qualify for assistance, Ms. Carter must share her medications with him - which reduces the amount of medication she can take.

"If he gets elected, I'm gonna hold him to his promises," she vowed yesterday after hearing Mr. Kerry speak.

Don Gates hasn't had to share his medications, but he's parted with plenty of his retirement income to cover their cost. The Toledo man praised Mr. Kerry's ideas.

"It costs me $920 out of my own pocket for five of my seven medications," said Mr. Gates.

Mr. Gates, 69, worked as a truck mechanic for the old Libbey-Owens-Ford Co. and was counting on the company's health plan for retirees to cover his medical needs. But his retiree benefits have been cut back, and he said he struggles to pay his medical bills.

"I worked 38 years and I can't get enough to survive, but I'm just above the poverty line so I don't qualify for help," he said. "That's why I think Kerry's whole program is very good."

In addition to its other provisions, Senator Kerry said his plan would cover 95 percent of Americans through tax credits for businesses, allowing those not yet 65 to buy into Medicare, covering more children, and allow importing drugs from Canada and elsewhere. Republicans have said the proposal would cost hundreds of billions of dollars and result in increasing taxes.

Yesterday, the Bush-Cheney campaign lined up two Toledo-area doctors to attack Mr. Kerry's proposals.

Dr. Lance Talmage, a Toledo obstetrician-gynecologist and member of the State Medical Board, and Dr. Donna Woodson, a Maumee family physician, said the real problem with rising health care costs is a legal system that allows frivolous lawsuits.

They said scores of Ohio doctors are leaving the state, retiring early, or quitting risky procedures like delivering babies because frivolous lawsuits have driven up the cost of their malpractice insurance.

President Bush supports a nationwide cap of $250,000 on noneconomic damages for malpractice cases, something Mr. Kerry and many Democrats oppose.

Mr. Kerry also blasted Mr. Bush for his handling of the economy and the war in Iraq, saying it has become a mess over which the United States is losing control.

"In Iraq, the President is, well, 'W,'●'' Mr. Kerry said. "The wrong choice. The wrong direction. The wrong leadership. Things are getting worse. More than 1,000 Americans have been killed. Instability is rising. Violence is spreading. Extremism is growing."

Mr. Kerry overnighted in Detroit, where he was expected to deliver what his campaign is calling a major speech outlining his plans for taxes and the economy during a breakfast meeting of the Detroit Economic Club.

Contact Fritz Wenzel at:
fritz@theblade.com
or 419-724-6134.

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