Twenty-four hours: 24 health care horror stories

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4232


For more information read the personal health care stories at the TakeAction Minnesota website: http://www.takeactionminnesota.org/


By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
5 November 2009

ST. PAUL - As the U.S. House prepares to debate health reform legislation, members of the Minnesota Congressional delegation are hearing stories from their constituents who have been financially and emotionally devastated by the lack of affordable health care.
Each hour over the course of the day Thursday, an individual story was being sent to Minnesota’s eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The stories range from family members describing the death of loved ones who did not have health care to people who have lost their homes and declared bankruptcy because of the high cost of private insurance.

“These are real lives that have been wrecked by our current health care system,” said Dan McGrath, executive director of TakeAction Minnesota, which organized the effort.

“Opponents of reform don’t want to hear these stories. But the majority of Americans, in poll after poll, say they would benefit from the choice of a public health insurance option. And the Minnesotans telling their stories today are depending on Congress to pass a public option.”

A vote is expected as early as Saturday on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which would provide government subsidies beginning in 2013 to extend coverage to millions who now lack it. Self-employed people and small businesses could buy coverage through new exchanges, either from a private insurer or a new government plan that would compete with the insurance companies.


At a news conference Thursday to support federal health legislation, Bob Parker (left) described the death of his niece, Nora Longley, for untreated adrenal cancer. Looking on are Longley's cousin, Jessica Parker Garvin, and TakeAction Minnesota Executive Director Dan McGrath.

Emotional stories
At a news conference at the state Capitol, relatives of Nora Longley described her death in May 2009 of adrenal cancer after going months without access to health care.

“Had a public health insurance option been available to Nora early on, when she was struggling to afford coverage and was found ineligible for MinnesotaCare, her cancer would have been more treatable,” said her uncle, Bob Parker. “For our family, a public option may have allowed Nora the chance to live.”

FULL story at link.