GREEN BAY, Wis. -- President Barack Obama took his push for health care reform on the road on Thursday, hosting a town hall meeting in Green Bay.

Obama said a health care overhaul will cost "a good deal of money at a time where we don't have extra to spend."

Obama spoke to a town-hall audience gathered at a Wisconsin high school, part of a new effort to aggressively push for congressional action this year on overhauling a health care system he says is too expensive and complex.

In opening remarks before taking questions in Green Bay Thursday, the president said he won't allow reform to add to the deficit.

To get there, he said he will identify about $300 billion in budget savings "in the days to come" on top of an already outlined $300 billion. However, Obama also said that that won't be enough. He proposes the extra money come in part from reducing charitable deductions for the wealthiest Americans -- an idea that has little backing on Capitol Hill.

He's proposing to spend $1.5 trillion over the next decade to cover uninsured Americans. Some 50 million Americans are said to be without insurance.

"If we do nothing, in a decade we will be spending one out of every five dollars on health care," Obama said.

Obama said he is not interested in a system of nationalized health care but does believe a single-payer system has some appeal.

Answering a question at the town hall meeting, the president said the government is not going to force any change upon people who are pleased with the plan they already have with their employer.

Obama said talk of socialized medicine in America is incorrect. He told his audience, "So when you hear people talking about that, understand, I don't know anybody in Washington that's proposing that, certainly not me."

Obama used the story of a cancer-stricken Green Bay woman struggling to pay her bills to try to put a human face on the need for health care reform.

The president also praised Green Bay area health care providers for delivering high quality care at a much lower cost than other parts of the country.

Laura Klitzka introduced the president during his town hall-style meeting in the gymnasium at Southwest High School. She is a 35-year-old mother of two who is battling breast cancer.

Klitzka said her family has thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills. She said worrying about the family's finances while battling cancer has been "devastating."

Obama said Klitzka's story is "incredibly moving, but sadly, it is not unique."

Obama: Cooperation With Hill Needed On Health Care

Obama said cooperation with Congress is needed in putting together legislation overhauling the country's health care system. He said Thursday that Democrats and Republicans can agree on most aspects of a new health care program, but he conceded there are gaping differences over how large a role the government should play.

The president told his audience Thursday that he doesn't have all the answers and that he doesn't want to simply submit a plan and say, 'It's my way or the highway.'"

He said he's open-minded and "happy to steal other people's ideas."

Obama said there is universal agreement on some issues, such as going to electronic records and reducing paperwork for patients and health professionals.

But Obama on Thursday also lowered expectations for immediate wholesale changes to the health care system, even if Congress meets his goal of completing a reform bill this year.

At the town hall meeting, he said it will take a few years to implement every change in any legislation.

Obama said there are some things that can be done quickly. But he said it will take four or five years after a bill is passed to have a whole system set up.

Obama warned that if the country puts off health care reform, "It's never going to happen."

Obama said Americans can do much to take cost pressures out of the health care system by taking better care of themselves. The president also told people gathered in Green Bay that he sees encouraging steps by many companies to improve employee wellness programs. He said healthier habits can take some of the stress out of the system.

Obama said, "I do not want the government to run things. I've got enough to do. I've got North Korea and Iran. I've got Afghanistan and Iraq."

The president said that "we can all take steps to become healthier." Obama also said: "There is nothing wrong with us giving a little bit of a nudge in moving people in the direction of healthier lifestyles."

Obama has set a deadline of this year to pass health care legislation. He heads to Chicago on Monday to address the American Medical Association.

Obama Pardons Wisconsin Girl For Missing School

One 10-year-old Wisconsin girl has a rock-solid excuse for missing the last day of school: a personal note to her teacher from President Barack Obama.

John Corpus of Green Bay stood to ask Obama a question about health care during his town hall-style meeting Thursday. He told Obama his daughter Kennedy missed school to attend the event and he hoped she didn't get in trouble.

Obama offered to write a note to her teacher. The crowd laughed, but Obama followed through.

On a piece of paper, he wrote: "Please excuse Kennedy's absence. She's with me. Barack Obama."

Kennedy said getting the note "was like the best thing ever" and she plans to frame it. She said she'll make a copy to give her teacher.