Democrats offer their Rx for health care problems

Second in a series on the issues facing 6th Congressional District Democratic candidates Jill Morgenthaler and Stan Jagla in the Feb. 5 primary.

As medical benefit costs skyrocket for businesses and 40 million-plus Americans cope with little or no insurance, it's not surprising 6th Congressional District Democratic candidates are focused on the issue.

The two offer different solutions. Jill Morgenthaler favors a combination of public and private plans, while Stan Jagla wants to eliminate pre-existing condition restrictions.

Morgenthaler, a former top state homeland security adviser, and Jagla, a Roselle businessman, are vying in the Feb. 5 primary. The winner will face Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam in the November general election.

For people without health insurance, Jagla supports a government-run system paid for with user fees and general revenues.

But he still believes in private plans.

"I don't want the government to take over health care," he said. "Because we have this private system, we have more medical advancements than any other country. We are the leader in the medical field because of the private system, so why destroy it?"

Morgenthaler says personal experience has shown how important quality health insurance is. Her husband was diagnosed several years ago with multiple sclerosis, and one of his medicines would cost the family $1,500 a month if it weren't covered.

"I'm concerned there's a lot of people in the 6th District with inadequate or no health care," the Des Plaines resident said.

Jagla is critical of private plans that limit health benefits because of pre-existing conditions.

He favors a new law prohibiting such restrictions so "doctors and citizens do not get stuck with medical costs because the insurance companies refused to pay," he said.

Morgenthaler contends with more veterans and senior citizens needing care, federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Veterans Health Administration need to grow.

"There's not one solution -- there needs to be a combination of public and private solutions. We need to leverage private and public systems so every citizen can have health care," she said.

One medical issue that often divides people on political lines is abortion.

However, both Jagla and Morgenthaler believe in a woman's right to chose to have an abortion.

On another topical social question, that of gay marriage, Jagla contends that "gay people have equal rights like everybody else. Equal rights mean equal rights for everybody."

Morgenthaler opposes any constitutional amendments banning gays from marrying.

The 6th District includes parts of northeast DuPage and northwest Cook counties.