Americans won't be denied access to health care

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080409/OPINION01/804090334/1031

Americans won't be denied access to health care

Posted: April 9, 2008

Despite the hubbub about health care, too many people running for office in Indiana have treated real health-care reform in America as a political non-starter. They know that nearly all voters are insured, and they believe insured voters fear health-care reform more than they desire it.

Now we know otherwise, thanks to more than 26,000 people who told us so.

Our informants were the vast and varied respondents to a health-care survey launched by the AFL-CIO and our community affiliate, Working America, to help candidates understand America's health-care needs. You can find the survey results at www.healthcaresurvey.aflcio.org.

Most of those who took the survey are insured and employed. Most are college graduates. More than half are union members. Almost all of them believe the health-care system needs fundamental change, and they are planning to vote about it in November.

Mary Jo, from Indianapolis, is one of 7,500 people who shared their compelling stories: "Before I had Medicare, when the insurance I had through the state of Indiana where my husband had been employed ran out, I was forced to find new insurance. Because I was over 60, I had difficulty finding an insurer. Finally, I got what my doctor called Catastrophic Coverage. However, nothing that had ever been a problem of mine or of a member of my family's was covered. For instance, my mother has breast cancer, so one of my breasts was not covered. I was so relieved to become 65!"

Chances are, Mary Joe will vote, and it is voters like her who will turn the conventional wisdom about the politics of health-care reform on its head.

FULL article at link.