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Health care issue moves to forefront

Coleman offered a plan that he said could provide health care for all who want it; Franken focused on care for seniors.

By PAT DOYLE and MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: September 12, 2008 - 9:54 PM

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One of the core issues touching every American household -- health care -- took center stage Friday in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race.

Sen. Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken unveiled plans to expand insurance coverage for the public and special care for seniors, both relying on tax breaks for individuals and businesses.

Coleman, a Republican, said his proposal for coverage would not increase costs but could provide health care for anyone who wants it. The plan provides tax deductions and credits for individuals and small businesses but would not mandate coverage.

In initiatives aimed at senior citizens, Franken proposed a $2,000 tax credit for individuals and a $1,200 tax credit for businesses to offset costs of providing long-term care.

Franken also said he would require the federal government to pay for long-term care in patients' homes if their doctors deemed it most effective. He said Medicare now mostly reimburses for care in nursing homes and other institutions.

The tax credits and other elements of Franken's plan would amount to about $3 billion annually. His campaign says that cost would be covered by closing tax shelters, reducing improper federal payments, negotiating lower Medicare drug prices and the savings resulting from shifting more long-term care to patients' homes.

Criticisms and defense

The Coleman campaign criticized the Democrat's overall health-care stance as out of step with the public. At a news conference, Coleman paid particular attention to Franken's support for single-payer coverage for children.

"He wants to begin by requiring that every child, regardless of their parents' income, be put into a government program paid for by the taxpayers. Under that proposal, your next trip to the doctor would remind you of a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles," Coleman said.

Franken defended his plan, saying, "People don't blame kids for not having health care." He disputed Coleman's claim that coverage for all could be achieved at no additional cost in the short run.

Coleman's plan would provide health insurance deductions for individuals and families who buy their own insurance; provide a tax credit for lower-income families that would go directly to private insurers; and guarantee access by prohibiting denial for pre-existing conditions.

Small businesses that make a minimum contribution to their employees' health insurance would be eligible for tax credits.

Although initially rejecting taxing some forms of health care benefits, an idea proposed by Republican presidential candidate John McCain, Coleman later said "everything should be on the table."

Franken announced his initiatives and the beginning of a new TV ad campaign on Social Security before about 150 seniors at Lyngblomsten Care Center in St. Paul. Many seniors applauded Franken's "iron-clad" opposition to any effort to privatize Social Security, referring to proposals that would allow individuals to invest a portion of their withholding in personal retirement accounts.

Franken said that risky investments could jeopardize the solvency of Social Security.

mbrunswick@startribune.com • 651-222-1636 pdoyle@startribune.com • 651-222-1210

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