enlarge Jack Milton/Staff Photographer

Donna Little of Falmouth marches for a public option for health care and against rising Anthem premiums.

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Katrina VanBrugh of Freeport is signed up with Dirigo Health but is struggling with medical bills despite a job teaching Spanish at the University of Southern Maine.

enlarge Jack Milton/Staff Photographer

Melanie Collins of Falmouth, a nurse, speaks to a rally in Portland for a government-run insurance option for health care and against rising premiums that many are struggling to pay.

PORTLAND — Chanting slogans and waving signs, about 65 protesters wound their way through the city Wednesday to call for health-care reform that includes a government-run insurance plan.

The group was a diverse gathering of Mainers that came together under one name: "Health Care for America Now."

Alfred Norton, a 74-year-old retired architect, rode along in a mobility scooter. Norton, a stroke survivor, said he decided to join the group because health care is "a major issue in the country right now."

"We're the only industrialized country in the world that isn't taking care of its people," he said.

Katrina VanBrugh of Freeport said she had not been to a protest since the 1970s, but when she heard about the rally from her day-care provider, she felt she had to participate.

A single mother who teaches Spanish at the University of Southern Maine, VanBrugh said that as a part-time employee, she does not receive health benefits for herself and her two children, 6-year-old Aquinnah and 3-year-old Zander.

Her family is signed up with Dirigo Health, Maine's public health option, but is still struggling to pay medical bills, she said.

"We don't go to the doctor as often as we should," she said. "If it's just a cold or the flu or food poisoning, I don't go. I've been lucky so far. (My children) haven't had any major illnesses. We just keep our fingers crossed."

Nationally, Health Care for America is made up of more than 1,000 organizations, 13 of them from Maine.

"We're pushing for a strong public option, because it will lower costs for everyone in this country by creating better choices in the health-care marketplace and drive competition," said Marianne von Nordeck, Maine political coordinator for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, one of the organizers of the rally.

"About 95 percent of health- care markets in this country are in near-monopoly. Maine's a great example of that. Anthem has, I believe, 78 percent of the health-care market here, so they can just charge whatever they want for as little as they want to provide, and there's not a lot stopping them."

Christopher R. Dugan, director of corporate communications for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, said Anthem supports health-care reform that is "responsible and sustainable" and provides access to care to those in need.

Dugan said 87 percent of every dollar spent on premiums at Anthem goes directly to medical claims, 10 percent goes to administration, and the rest is profit.

"I think clearly health-care reform is needed," he said, "and it's very fair and accurate to say that it's health-care costs that are driving premiums."

As the protesters marched through the city during Wednesday's rally, they wrote their own stories on fake money and asked people they met along the way to do the same.

Then a small contingent delivered the stories to the Portland offices of U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

"Senator Snowe always appreciates hearing all points of view and will certainly consider all opinions and ideas as she continues playing a leadership role on the Senate Finance Committee in drafting comprehensive health-care reform," John Genttzel, Snowe's communications director, said in a written statement.

Kevin Kelley, a spokesman for Collins, said in a written statement that expanding access to affordable health care for all Americans is one of Collins' top priorities. But she also wants to ensure that people can choose their own provider and keep their current insurance plan if they are happy with it, he said.

Wednesday's protesters rallied in Lincoln Park, then wound their way through the farmers market in Monument Square and ended at the lobsterman statue at Canal Plaza.

Faith "Nikki" McLean, one of the protesters, said she had a son who was mentally ill and died.

"I was trying to get him help,...