Congressman Sander Levin
[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]
| |
|
4th Health Care Roundtable Re-Cap |
|
| |
| |
I held the fourth Congressional Health Care Roundtable on Saturday May 16th, 2009 at the Warren Community Center and was joined by nine people from throughout the 12th District.
During this roundtable, as in previous ones, participants shared their experiences with the health care system from the perspective of patients, providers and insurers.
As the discussion flowed, participants expressed agreement about a number of ideas. There was unanimous agreement that every insurance plan must be required to cover pre-existing conditions. Every person stated how expensive health insurance is now and that no one is happy with the status quo. Lastly, everyone agreed that the health care system does needs a major upgrade.
I raised a few aspects of reform that I think are important. First, I believe the creation of a new public health insurance plan that everyone could join is crucial to ensuring that people always have an affordable, dependable option for comprehensive coverage. I also discussed the question of whether there should be shared responsibility among individuals, employers, and government to pay for health insurance.
One woman said that her COBRA coverage is about to expire and she suggested that people be allowed to maintain COBRA coverage until they reach 65 years of age. I discussed the step we took in the Recovery Act to provide a 65% subsidy for COBRA to help unemployed people maintain coverage.
One woman felt that the current system is designed in a way that it forces people to give up, while another cautioned that she hopes the reform is not so complicated that the average person cannot understand it. People talked not only about the serious problems of uninsurance, but also about the fact that many people are underinsured and do not have coverage for some of the very important preventative services they need.
Each of these sessions I hold reaffirms the need for Congress to act to reform the health care system this year. I look forward to future discussions and hope to meet you and hear your stories and ideas.
|
|
| |
|
June 4, 2009 |
|
|
|
To Contact Congressman Levin: -
Email Congressman Levin In Michigan: 27085 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, MI 48066 | (586) 498-7122 | (248) 968-2025
In Washington: 1236 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-4961
