PORTLAND, ME - Doctors and advocates of healthcare reform from Maine today released a report outlining the benefits of proposed healthcare reforms. They also unveiled a new television advertisement promoting a public health insurance option in healthcare reform. Government, families, and businesses large and small stand to save trillions from healthcare reform. President Obama has spoken about the need for a uniquely American healthcare system that allows everyone who likes their current coverage to keep it. A public health insurance option is necessary to provide a meaningful choice for Maine residents, as one insurer (Wellpoint) controls seventy-eight percent of the state's health insurance market.
"The healthcare system is most definitely broken. Doctors and patients together should be making healthcare decisions, not the insurance companies. A public health insurance plan will give good benefits at an affordable price, and allow piece of mind that they will be covered, no matter what happens," said Dr. Bethany Picker, M.D., of Lewiston. Dr. Picker is one of two Maine physicians featured in a new advertisement being run by Health Care for America Now (HCAN).
In 2007, Maine's economy lost as much as $413 million because of the poor health and shorter lifespan of residents without health insurance. Further, insurance premiums I n Maine have risen by 89.7 percent from 2000 to 2007, while median earnings increased only 16.8 percent. Guaranteeing access to quality, affordable coverage for everyone in Maine can return that same amount to our struggling economy and alleviate the burden of soaring premiums on families and businesses.
"Mainers, like other Americans, are having trouble affording health insurance, and we need a national fix. It is important people have a choice between keeping the plan that they are happy with, or choosing a public insurance plan. Right now, we are in a situation where a lot of people can't afford any sort of healthcare. No health care is not an option. Americans are the smartest people in the world, we can solve this problem. We can create a healthcare system that works. We can't wait to fix our healthcare system because my patients can't wait," said Dr. Karen Hover, of Bangor. Dr. Hover is also featured in the HCAN television advertisement.
While there will be upfront costs to reforming healthcare, the long-term value of reform is undeniable. The costs of doing nothing are simply too high. Meaningful healthcare reform will decrease costs and increase choices available to our families and neighbors; expand access to and improve the quality of healthcare; and provide an economic boon to businesses and local governments by controlling costs and fostering a healthier workforce.
A recent report by HCAN found that the profits at ten of the country's largest publicly-traded health insurance companies in 2007 rose 428 percent from 200 to 2007, while the compensation of the chief executives at those companies averaged $11.9 million. That is more than 468 times the compensation of the average American worker.
A public health option is critical.
You can download the report at: http://action.seiu.org/MaineReport
