Clinton Says Some Lose in Health Plan : Medicine: He and First Lady hear from 15 Americans who suffered from inequities in care system. He sees a number of young and healthy paying more for package.

President Clinton, inaugurating his massive health reform promotional campaign with hard luck tales from the system’s victims, acknowledged Thursday that his plan would have short term “losers”--among them the young and the healthy.

In an emotional Rose Garden gathering that Clinton said would “put a human face” on a complex issue, the President and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton commiserated with 15 Americans who have suffered family separations, wrecked careers and declining living standards because of the health care system’s inequities.

But as he promised that only sweeping reform could remedy their problems, Clinton also stressed--as he never has before--that such improvement would not come without costs.

“I don’t want to pretend this is all going to be easy,” Clinton said, pointing out that some of the young and healthy would pay “slightly more” for the standard health care package the government would guarantee. He added later, at a separate event in northeast Washington with small business owners: “In the short run, we can’t make 100% of the people winners.”

Clinton’s shift in tone came as analysts warned that the public might sour on the plan if it doubts the Administration’s contention that squeezing waste from the health care system will broaden health benefits without major financial sacrifices from any group.

The 15 were chosen from some 700,000 Americans who have written the White House about health care since January. The Rose Garden event, a prelude to Clinton’s formal unveiling of the health plan before Congress on Wednesday, was calculated to begin a complicated promotional campaign with an event of maximum emotional impact. And by several signs, it succeeded: Several of the letter writers choked up as the discussion progressed and the normally reserved Mrs. Clinton became tearful several times as cancer victims, grieving parents and imperiled workers told their tales.

Even some of Clinton’s critics agreed that the setting played to his strengths, particularly his ability to convey through his words and body language that he cares about ordinary Americans.

“He’s very, very good at this stuff,” said Bill McInturff, a Republican pollster who opposes the Clinton plan.

The gathering, which took place under a white tent in the Rose Garden because of soggy Washington weather, was begun shortly after 8 a.m., so television stations across the country could show parts of it during morning news shows. It marked the first time that the President and Mrs. Clinton, his chief health care adviser, have presided jointly over a policy event since the inauguration. Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, joined them.

Among the letter writers was Brigitte Burdine, a casting consultant from Van Nuys, who told of her family’s struggle to help her 22-year-old sister, Heather, who has AIDS. Her sister, who lives in Olney, Md., so far has had most of her bills paid by insurance provided by the retail company that also pays her hourly wage of $7.35.

But Heather’s prescription costs are $6,000 annually and rising--and her 2-year-old daughter, Chase, has contracted AIDS as well. The family fears that the threat of higher insurance premiums may force her employer to lay Heather off. And, her relatives fear, even if she isn’t forced out, her worsening health may mean that she will have to quit--and probably lose her insurance.

Heather’s parents, who are retired, are helping pay the bills, but the expenses could force them to give up their home.

“It isn’t fair,” said Burdine.

Clinton told Burdine that her sister’s problem could be solved only if the young and healthy, like her, agree to pay a little more for the benefit of older or sicker people.

“The tough choice is that someone like you in the same pool, because you’re young and healthy and strong and unlikely to be sick, might have to pay a little bit more in your insurance premiums so that everybody in the big (insurance) pool could be covered,” Clinton said.

But he promised that the young ultimately would benefit from this system, because one day they would age and need more health care.

Suzy Somers of Menlo Park, Calif., underwent six months of chemotherapy for breast cancer, then learned that her insurance coverage was jeopardized because her ex-husband’s company had filed for bankruptcy. She told the Clintons that other insurers told her that she could qualify for coverage only if she were cancer free for five years, or “treatment free” for two years.

Her predicament has forced her to consider taking a job that would qualify her for insurance or marrying a man who has insurance that would cover her. “Are these options?” she asked.

Mrs. Clinton’s eyes filled with tears, and her hands clenched, as Somers added that she had just learned last week that she has a new lump in her breast.

Mrs. Clinton also was affected visibly as another letter writer, Margie Silverman of Miami, told how her ailing daughter had been forced to remain away from her--and others in her family--because her insurer would only provide medical care at its facilities in California.

“Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, you have only one daughter--you understand,” Silverman said.

As the Clintons and Gores mingled with the group and their families afterward, Clinton pulled onto his lap a little girl coincidentally named Chelsea Hope Stanton. The Clintons’ daughter is named Chelsea and the President grew up in Hope, Ark.

Some of the participants gave Clinton credit for his interest, including some of those who saw the political agenda in it all.

“I think it’s all a very clever political move but I think that’s fine,” said Somers, who also identified herself as a Clinton voter.

Air fare for 15 members of the group was paid by Families USA, a private advocacy group that has been an ally of the Administration in its campaign for national health care reform. The bill for the flights is expected to run between $15,000 and $20,000, according to Ron Pollack, the group’s executive director.

He said that the group has been urging the White House to use average Americans to determine its policy. “We were delighted to help out,” Pollack said.

Later Thursday, Clinton visited an industrial hardware store in Washington to field questions on the plan from the small business owners who have quickly become some of the plan’s strongest opponents. Standing amid paint cans, hammers and files, Clinton defended his plan against charges that it would erase struggling businesses’ profits and kill jobs.

He acknowledged that some employers who do not pay premiums now would have to begin doing so and that some others would see their premiums rise. But he insisted that those premiums will rise even higher if the current system continues.

“I’ve not tried to mask the fact today . . . that there are some tough choices to be made and that, in the short run, we can’t make 100% of the people winners,” he said.

Clinton plans four days of health care events in the next week, including a trip today to a Washington hospital to promote the Administration’s plans for a single health insurance form. After next week’s speech, Clinton will spend two days in the Southeast, perhaps in Florida, promoting the plan.

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