GREENSBORO

What she says:

* Increase funding for Medicaid and allow the government to negotiate for lower drug costs for Medicaid recipients.

* Lower health care costs by implementing wider use of electronic medical records.

* Require insurance companies to cover preventive care and prohibit them from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.

* Allow people ages 55 to 64 to buy into the Medicare system.

What she's done:

* Served in the N.C. Senate for five terms and was a member of the Senate Health Care Committee.

* Supported legislation to expand health insurance for children in families with incomes up to $61,950.

DUSKIN C. LASSITER

LEXINGTON

What he says:

* Provide universal health care through a "European-style" government plan based on a percentage of your income, with children covered for free.

* Computerize all health care records to streamline care and reduce costs; reduce communicable diseases.

* Establish full mental-health, vision and dental parity.

* Provide prescription drugs at lower prices through government negotiated contracts; prohibit TV advertising of prescription drugs.

What he's done:

* Earned a state certificate to sell health and life insurance policies, but never worked in the industry.

HOWARD STALEY

MONCURE

What he says:

* Create universal health coverage using mix of Medicare and Medicaid expansions and private health insurance.

* Encourage computerization of health care records with a single platform by tying government reimbursements to proper use of electronic records.

* Allow free market to handle prescription drug costs.

* Legislate some form of mental health parity.

What he's done:

* Has medical degree from Temple University College of Podiatric Medicine.

* Operates a podiatric practice and provides health insurance for his employees.

MARCUS W. WILLIAMS

LUMBERTON

What he says:

* Wants universal health care system, developed with a combination of private insurance provided by employers and a federal health plan for the unemployed.

* Give more incentives for preventive care, including weight loss and exercise.

* Prohibit exclusion of pre-existing conditions or things such as eye care, dental care or autism. Wants full mental-health parity in coverage.

What he's done:

* As legal aid attorney, negotiated with insurance providers to assure that health care was provided to the elderly and single mothers.

* Negotiated health insurance coverage for legal aid employees.

JIM NEAL

CHAPEL HILL

What he says:

* Provide universal access to health insurance under a Medicare-type plan. Reduce reliance on emergency rooms by the uninsured.

* Focus on preventive medicine to reduce costs.

* Mandate a standard health care technology backbone for every provider to process claims and collect information to reduce costs.

What he's done:

* As an investment banker, worked with health-care companies and advised biotechnology companies and life sciences companies.

* Ran Rxmarketplace, an Internet company that offered, marketed and sold generic drugs to independent pharmacists.