Rob Christensen, Staff Writer

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Monday unveiled his plan to extend health care insurance to the 47 million Americans who are uninsured.

Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, is proposing a patchwork system of government programs, private insurance, tax credits and insurance pools.

Edwards said his plan would cost as much as $120 billion per year, and would require a tax increase, mainly on the wealthy. He said his plan would spread the costs among employers, employees and the government.

"We have to give the silent victims, who stand in line at free clinics and use the expired medicines of friends and neighbors, we have to give them the dignity of universal health care," Edwards told the Democratic National Committee last week.

The proposal for universal health care comes as Edwards is positioning himself to the left of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.

During his 2004 run for president, Edwards proposed requiring all children be afforded health insurance. During his second White House run, Edwards is advocating that all Americans be covered.

Among the key elements:

* Require businesses to provide health insurance to their employees by offering their own plan or participating in regional pools called Health Markets.

* Offer insurance tax credits to help families pay insurance premiums.

* Expand Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for the poor, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

* Have the federal government help states or groups of states create regional Health Markets, nonprofit purchasing pools.

See the plan: