When I visit the Main streets of our towns and cities, I constantly hear that the skyrocketing costs of health care are holding Maine’s small businesses back. Working people feel the crush of soaring health insurance costs or simply cannot afford coverage. Small-business owners want to offer insurance to their employees, but the process is challenging, the choices are few, the costs increase, deductibles go up and the coverage is eroding. Many employers simply cannot afford to offer insurance to employees any longer.

Here are just two examples:

Bob and Suzanne Kelly own House Revivers and Kelly Realty Management in Bangor. For years they were able to offer health insurance for their employees. Soaring costs year after year caused the Kellys to cut benefits, and their employees could no longer afford their share. Now the Kellys aren’t able to offer health insurance at all. Their own policy carries a $15,000 deductible.

I recently met Mariah Roberts, owner of Beach Pea Baking Co. in Kittery. She started her business six years ago and within a month hired two employees. She now employs more than 20 people but struggles with the costs of health insurance. Mariah cannot afford to cover new hires until they have been with the company for six months. That barrier often drives away talented prospects.

I recently wrote my own universal health care plan that goes further to address the financial concerns of small businesses than any other major plan. I believe that every American has a right to affordable, high-quality and accessible health care.

My plan provides a refundable tax credit for small businesses and federal government assistance for catastrophic medical claims.

It targets the specific needs of Maine, particularly the financial challenges for small businesses in providing employee health coverage, access to medical care in rural areas and relief for our middle-class families and individuals who are struggling to afford health insurance. And it will drive down costs.

If we want to strengthen our economy and compete globally, we have to fix health care. If we want to help small businesses, we have to fix health care. The time has come for a bold, comprehensive solution to our health care crisis, and I have one.

Under my plan, every American will have access to quality, affordable health care. It builds on the strengths of the American health care system by providing new and better choices for America’s businesses and families who are left out of the system or lack health care security they can count on for a lifetime.

Other major points: Every American will have new options and choices. But those who like their current health care coverage can keep it.

The new public plan – the Healthy Americans Program – will offer quality, affordable health insurance choices like those available to members of Congress to businesses, the self-employed, families and individuals.

Benefits will include essential medical services, including preventive services, maternity and mental health care, and access to a wide range of specialists. National choices will include private plans as well as the Healthy Americans Program.

Businesses and employees enrolling in a national plan can keep their plan even if they change employers, move to another state or experience changes in medical conditions. Insurers will compete for business on the basis of cost and quality, not profit from and discriminate against people because of age or a pre-existing condition.

People ages 55 to 65 will be allowed to buy into Medicare. This provides security to early retirees who are charged higher premiums based on age and their risk of incurring higher medical costs.

All children have access to health insurance. Therefore, my plan will improve outreach and enrollment in SCHIP and Medicaid programs for low-income families. Barriers will be eliminated to allow parents to cover their children up to the age of 25 under their family insurance plan.

Costs will be driven down with comprehensive measures to improve quality and promote efficiency.

We can solve our nation’s health care crisis, ensure that all citizens have access to quality, affordable coverage, and improve the competitive edge of Maine and America’s businesses in the global economy. Our nation’s future depends on it. While every American and every business must pay its fair share, my plan preserves what is best about our current system, harnesses our scientific and entrepreneurial genius, reduces waste and red tape, and assures that all Americans have quality health care at a cost they can afford.

Tom Allen represents Maine’s 1st Congressional District. He is a Democratic candidate for the Senate.