Heinz Kerry presses health plan [Achtung! You must submit to wellness!]

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | October 7, 2004 | By PAUL SHUKOVSKY

[johnny7]

Wife of presidential nominee says preventive care is key to cutting costs

BELLEVUE -- Teresa Heinz Kerry, daughter of a physician and chief executive of a philanthropy funding health-care initiatives, put that experience to work in Bellevue yesterday while on the stump for her presidential-candidate husband at a roundtable discussion on the funding crisis in U.S. health care.

Before an invitation-only audience of about 40 doctors, nurses and other health care professionals at the Eastgate Public Health Center, Heinz Kerry expounded upon the ills facing a health care system in which millions of Americans are without insurance coverage. Drawing extensively upon her own background as head of the Heinz Family Philanthropies, which works with states and cities around the nation to institute cost-effective strategies for providing prescription drug coverage to the elderly, children and the uninsured, Heinz Kerry deftly negotiated the intricacies of health care policy lingo to push Sen. John Kerry's plan for fixing the system. Heinz Kerry's discussion was reminiscent of her husband's phrase, "I have a plan," as she spoke of the Kerry-Edwards strategy for addressing the funding crisis by taking steps such as an intense focus on preventative health care. "What I see in America today ... is that, for the most part, we are not a very healthy country," Heinz Kerry said. Too many children, for example, are suffering from a form of diabetes caused by a poor diet. "John's plan focuses on wellness and prevention."

Early emphasis on prevention could save as much as $50 billion a year just by reducing the incidence of diabetes-related disease, she said. Under the plan, every child would be covered by health insurance. The plan also calls for catastrophic coverage that kicks in when the cost of an illness hits $50,000. The government would pick up 75 percent of the cost of premiums, with the other 25 percent being split between employers and employees. Under the catastrophic provision, she said, both the company and its employees would have to commit themselves to a wellness program. The plan would eliminate the excuse of high-cost health coverage used by some employers to outsource jobs, she said. "Health care should never be a reason for American corporations to outsource or American people to lose their jobs."

Critics say Kerry's 10-year, $653 billion health care plan could cost more than twice what the senator's campaign says it would and would result in nationalized health care. Swedish Medical Center emergency-room nurse Don Miller rose to tell Heinz Kerry that the ER has become "America's primary care health provider for the uninsured, underinsured and those on Medicaid." Ultimately, said the 30-year veteran nurse, using the ER for that purpose costs 10 times more than a visit to a primary care provider. Heinz Kerry, who also appeared yesterday at a "Women for Kerry" rally at Seattle Central Community College, responded that society must educate people on the appropriate use of health care by teaching them to get early care at places such as public health clinics.

Miller said, "I think she has made it clear that health care is an important issue with her husband."

P-I reporter Paul Shukovsky can be reached at 206-448-8072 or paulshukovsky@seattlepi.com

[johnny7]

This sounds like 'HillaryCare' with a jack-booted twist to it.

Man those socialists like to fu_k with your head!

[agere_contra]

If you want to stop the "incidence of diabetes-related disease", there's no point in giving people/forcing people to have medical insurance. The best way to avoid onset diabetes is to drastically cut down on sugar-intake. People make that sort of decision for themselves.

[cajungirl]

To get our insurance, we have to "commit" ourselves to a preventive health care program.

That's it, that's the last thing. She is gonna make us get up at 5 am and march and then do callisthenics, you watch it. Teresa is gonna become my eighth grade PE teacher.

[steve8714]

You WILL eat broccoli.
Mandatory PT at 6am every morning..
Can they rent Nuremberg for a rally?
Main myth; nationalized healthcare (KerryKare) will not decrease emergency room visits, unless the gov subsidizes taxi rides to the clinics. The dependent class think they should pay for NO necessities (food, medicine, housing)so they have money for cigarettes, booze and the lottery.

[mrs. a]

Ummm....who's going to pay for this?

[Commiewatcher]

Time for Harry and Louise again.

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

I assume Teresa will set an example by losing 40 lbs.......right?

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

"I think she has made it clear that health care is an important issue with her husband." ....which is why he picked Edwards, the Junk Lawsuit King, who has done more than anyone in Congress to make health insurance unaffordable for all of us.

[GailA]

Looks like more MANDATES will be forth coming from a sKerry administration. It goes hand and glove with their 13 year olds to Seniors will be MANDATED to VOLUNTEER for NATIONAL SERVICE

[raybbr]

...at a roundtable discussion on the funding crisis in U.S. health care.

So, there really is no health care crisis. Just how we are going to pay for those who won't (illegals, indigents, etc.) pay for their own health care.

[GailA]

They won't be happy until you spend 8 hrs a day on a exercise bike...munching only on a celery stick

I HATE celery it's bitter.

[Fintan]

I'm surprised she didn't mention all the wonderful things her husband's running mate has done for health care in this country.

 

[kitkat]

***I assume Teresa will set an example by losing 40 lbs.......right?***

Ohhhhhhhhh, GOOD one.

[reformedliberal]

Teresa Heinz Kerry, daughter of a physician

---

So, does being the blood relative of a physician automatically give one the credibility to design a healthcare regime?

Extending that logic would mean anyone related to a military officer is qualified to give commands to the troops.

This is a stealth co-presidency. Electing John Kerry means we also get co-president-in-charge-of healthcare, Teresa. I've seen this movie.

There was already a jack-booted twist in Hillarycare, IIRC.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

They're starting that "It's all for the chillun" crapola again. Dems really are bottom feeders. Finish that cheese danish Teraaaza and get with the program.

[AmericanChef]

Which "Bellevue" was this, again?

-"The government would pick up 75 percent of the cost of premiums, with the other 25 percent being split between employers and employees."-

Translation: taxpayers would pick up 75 percent of the cost...with the other 25 percent being split between employers, who would cut jobs and salaries to pay for it, and taxpayers again, because we wouldn't have enough money from the original money-sucking of taxpayers and employers.

[lotex]

Since heinz-kerry is so concerned about health care...maybe her & edward's wife should join a gym..those 2 DA-lings don't look so hot