Currently over 40 million Americans are consistently without health insurance, and every year millions more face temporary shortfalls in their coverage. In Indiana over one half of all personal bankruptcy cases are a direct result of un-payable medical bills.
At the same time, the rate of some illnesses have increased astronomically, including childhood cancer, asthma, autism, and reproductive disorders, because environmental safety has been considered less important than the marketplace. Indeed, medicine has become big business.
Too many of our citizens are being forced to gamble with their physical well-being and financial security because they cannot afford the high costs of medical insurance. In turn, the high cost of health insurance is having a deleterious effect on our economy. Businesses are put at a distinct disadvantage with companies from countries that have government sponsored healthcare. This is one of the factors encouraging so many businesses to locate overseas. It is fast becoming untenable for both individuals and employers to keep up with inflating premiums.
A major factor in the rising cost of insurance is the high cost of medicines. Americans pay more for the same prescription drugs than do people almost anywhere else in the world. This has resulted in a hard choice for our elderly and disabled on Medicaid: they are being forced to choose between medicine and other necessities, such as food. We have a responsibility to ourselves and to our fellow Americans to find solutions to these problems.
The first thing Congress should do is to repeal legislation prohibiting U.S. citizens from purchasing cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and other countries that have drug safety standards equal to those in the United States. But that is just a tiny first step.
I support universal healthcare for all Americans. I support a single payer government provided plan, which takes insurance companies and their high overhead out of the equation. Insurance companies are in business to make a profit. They do so by limiting coverage, even spending large amounts on lawsuits to avoid coverage. They should not be involved in any government sponsored health plan.
When I’m elected to Congress, my first priority will be to do what is in the best interests of my constituents, not the best interests of insurance executives. I firmly believe that all Americans deserve the same quality healthcare that members of Congress provide themselves.
