SPRINGFIELD - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg says the nation's health care system must undergo a free-market, capitalist overhaul to better serve the American public.

The doctor from Lombard visited Springfield Monday to promote the program he hopes to install if he wins the November election against incumbent U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Springfield. It includes offering individuals and families rebates to purchase their own health insurance.

Sauerberg says the current system is too expensive and too complicated for most Americans. His pitch calls for more options for residents to meet their specific needs.

"Dick Durbin offers the same answer to health care that he does for every other challenge facing our nation - let the federal government fix it," Sauerberg said. "If we don't start solving something fairly soon, then we're not going to get this thing done. What we have is wrong. This is right."

Durbin insists that he has placed improving health care towards the top of his priority list, as is evidenced by his opposition to medical cutbacks proposed by the Bush administration.

"Sen. Durbin has made it a priority to fight for affordable, accessible, quality health care for every American," said Durbin spokeswoman Christina Angarola.

Along with fighting insurance fraud and simplifying the application process, Sauerberg's health care plan would credit subscribers who buy their own insurance. Sauerberg proposes that taxpayers receive a $2,000 rebate for individuals, or a $5,000 rebate for families, to purchase their own insurance, as opposed to giving employers a tax benefit for providing their employees with insurance.

"Giving families control over the insurance they purchase will also ensure that individuals get the coverage most appropriate for their age, and need," Sauerberg said.

"There's always advisory people willing to help people with their problems of this nature."