Meet Gary Soares
Personal Care Attendant, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East--Massachusetts Division

Gary works as a personal care attendant (PCA) in Massachusetts and earns approximately $50,000 per year. Gary's employer--the state of Massachusetts--doesn't offer healthcare coverage.

Right now, Gary earns too much to buy lower-cost insurance under Massachusetts state healthcare reform for himself and his child--and not enough to be able to afford comprehensive insurance on the open market. He's caught in the middle like so many working families throughout America.

"It's outrageous," Gary says. "We have caregivers throughout the healthcare industry who have no healthcare themselves."

How reform will help Gary and his family
Under both bills, Gary will have a new place to turn for coverage for himself and his child. Massachusetts will be able to expand the number of people it can assist by offering lower-cost, high quality insurance plans. Gary would be able to find quality healthcare coverage at a premium of about 10 percent of his income ($415 per month) under both bills, but would qualify for better coverage with lower out-of-pocket costs under the House bill.