Rep. Allen unveils plan for universal health care

WESTBROOK – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Allen on Wednesday said that if he’s elected he will offer a universal health care plan with a cost of at least $75 billion that would be financed in part by bringing American troops home from Iraq.

Allen said his proposal guarantees all Americans, including the self-employed and owners and employees of small businesses, an opportunity to purchase affordable insurance. But Allen said it would also allow Americans who like their current health care coverage to keep it.

The six-term 1st District representative wants to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November for the seat she’s held for two terms. Allen first has a primary against Tom Ledue.

Collins claims co-authorship of the Access to Affordable Health Care Act, which seeks to move toward universal health coverage by bringing more Americans into the insurance system and address inequities in the Medicare system. Collins also supported efforts to restore funding to Medicare for home health care.

Allen outlined his plan at the Little Dolphin preschool in Westbrook, which has been struggling to provide increasingly expensive health care coverage for its teachers.

The congressman’s plan is designed to provide coverage for all through public as well as market-based plans. It would create a national Healthy Americans Program, but also allow the option to enroll in private health programs.

The Healthy Americans Program would offer to businesses, the self-employed, families and individuals insurance choices like those available to members of Congress, Allen said.

Benefits would include essential medical services, preventive services, maternity and mental health care and access to a range of specialists.

Under Allen’s proposal, insurers could not discriminate against people because of age or a pre-existing condition. People ages 55-65 will be allowed to buy into Medicare. The State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, which provides government-subsidized health coverage to eligible children, would be expanded.

The proposal seeks to remove barriers so parents could cover their children up to the age of 25 under family insurance plans.

“Our national health care crisis has been getting worse, year after year. It is time for a bold, dramatic solution, and I have one,” Allen said. He added that “piecemeal measures” won’t fix the problem.

Allen said his plan would cost $75 billion to $100 billion per year, and could be funded through a number of measures, including bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq, reducing Medicare Advantage overpayments, and requiring the government to negotiate lower prices for Medicare Part D.