MODERATOR: "Mr. President, let's have a new question. It goes to you. And let's get back to economic issues."

"Health insurance costs have risen over 36 percent over the last four years according to The Washington Post. We're paying more. We're getting less."

"I would like to ask you: Who bears responsibility for this? Is it the government? Is it the insurance companies? Is it the lawyers? Is it the doctors? Is it the administration?"

BUSH: "Gosh, I sure hope it's not the administration."

"There's a systemic problem. Health care costs are on the rise because the consumers are not involved in the decision-making process. Most health care costs are covered by third parties. And therefore, the actual user of health care is not the purchaser of health care. And there's no market forces involved with health care."

"It's one of the reasons I'm a strong believer in what they call health savings accounts. These are accounts that allow somebody to buy a low-premium, high-deductible catastrophic plan and couple it with tax-free savings. Businesses can contribute, employees can contribute on a contractual basis. But this is a way to make sure people are actually involved with the decision-making process on health care."

In his response, Senator Kerry did not mention Health Savings Accounts - he instead focused on the Bush administration's efforts to block the import of prescription drugs from Canada.