In other election news, presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) on Thursday at Indianola High School in Iowa said that as president he would seek to end overpayments to private Medicare Advantage plans, the Indianola Record-Herald reports. According to Edwards, overpayments to MA plans lead to higher premiums for beneficiaries enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare. Edwards said, "The problem is insurance companies are being paid more money for the services they provide under Medicare than the government is being paid."

In addition, Edwards promoted his health care proposal, which he said would establish "health care markets" to help consumers find the appropriate health plan. Edwards also said that the Bush administration has discouraged use of federal programs designed to increase access to health care. "The Bush administration sets up so many hurdles to prevent people from taking advantage of the social safety net," he said, adding, "They want you to run from one agency to another because they think people will give up" (Winn, Indianola Record-Herald, 10/26).