Kerry outlines his U.S. healthcare plan

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., outlined his 4-point proposal for U.S. healthcare policy in Boston Tuesday, saying every citizen must be covered by 2012.

Kerry, who lost in his challenge to President George Bush in 2004, said the top priority of his plan was ensuring universal coverage hinged on the second element, which requires the immediate coverage of children first.

He said his third element was controlling "the skyrocketing premiums, co-pays, and exclusions that make a mockery of the insurance hard-working families pay for month after month."

"Fourth, and finally, instead of telling tens of millions to wait until they are sick enough to go to an emergency room, we must and will assure high quality and preventive care for every American," he said.

Kerry took shots at conservatives, saying "the Scriptures do not command us to 'heal the sick' only if they have the money to pay for it," and said the focus on terror in the 2004 campaign had done major damage.

"One of my biggest regrets is that the (terror) fear talk trumped the healthcare walk and ... we are less safe abroad and less healthy at home because of that," Kerry said.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International