Rallying for Health Care Reform

Falling behind the rest of the industrialized world in health care, the United States is looking to fix the health care system that has left so many people behind. While some are rallying behind the greatness of private insurance, it’s creating a society that is crumbling under its own doctor bills.

According to the American Journal of Medicine, in 2007 over 60 percent of bankruptcies filed in the United States were largely attributed to medical expenses. Of those 60, nearly 80 percent had private insurance at the time of the filing, with more than half having private insurance.

Insurance rates are rising faster than inflation, but the coverage is not matching up with the increased cost. With bankruptcies being attributed to health costs, it forces the American consumer to question the purpose of private health insurance. Taking in higher profits from individual rates, but standing by as customers go bankrupt, the legitimacy of companies is questioned.

Individual insurance agencies are largely without competition, and large areas of states can be left with the choice of one insurance company or leaving a family uninsured. With individual state laws and health insurance agencies operating in isolated areas, the prices can remain high with coverage low without fear of being replaced.

Because health care is such a necessary part of life, specifically for families, companies have used their status as a necessity in life to play number games with customers’ well-being. By having a national health care plan, specifically one with a public option, insurance companies can have prices kept in check.

The public option isn’t made to replace all other health care options, but rather to create a playing field where people who have been denied coverage, either by pre-existing medical conditions or by financial status, can have a chance to get the hospital treatment which should be a right of all people. And with a national standard, it would allow choices to be made in markets where they currently don’t exist.

It’s also important to note that the public health care option has become a lightning rod of the debate, and is often looked at for the entire health care overhaul. While it is one that is being discussed, there are many important aspects of the health care bill, including governmental rebates and limitations for insurance agencies. Finding a disagreement with one or two specifics in the bill cannot be an excuse to maintain the status quo.

With the debate coming to its climax, it’s important that everyone understand the purpose of the reform and get out and help where necessary. Individuals from every state need to show they need urgency for a national health care reform, and gatherings allow information to be spread as well as showing support for the cause.

This Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Fargodome parking lot, “Get back to work on health care,” a gathering for health care reform, is being hosted by HCAN (Health Care for America Now). The rally will feature guest speakers Heidi Heitkamp and Joel Heitkamp, and feature music by Minnesota native band Low. Getting supporters together to listen to real life stories about the problems with health care is one important step in an urgent effort to get reform.

The chance for a national health care plan is closer than it has been in a century. Standing by and hoping is no longer an option, and the public must be willing to show strong support. It’s too close to give up now.

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