State of the Union - Where's Health Reform?
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January 27, 2010
CHICAGO - When President Obama delivers his State of the Union speech tonight, he is expected to discuss the economy and jobs. However, with 700 Illinois residents losing health insurance every day and one-third of Americans having spent at least six months without insurance coverage, members of the group Citizen Action Illinois believe health care reform should be addressed as well.
John Gaudette, health care director for the organization, says he's "pretty sure" the president hasn't given up on reforming the nation's health care system.
"I think he will hit the health care issue, and I think he'll hit it powerfully – and I think any kind of economic fix has to include health care."
Opponents have said they don't want their taxes to climb in order to pay for health care system improvements. Gaudette says those who hold that view may not realize that Illinois residents who use emergency rooms, or who go bankrupt for lack of health insurance, cost taxpayers a lot of money in the current system, in what he calls "hidden taxes."
Gaudette also thinks the topic of jobs should be part of the President's speech.
"I think there should be a focus on jobs but, I think along with, that he'll talk about how health care reform helps our economy."
He points out that the average chief executive for a health insurance company makes $8 million a year. Citizen Action wants Congress to make sure that insurance providers spend premium dollars on health care rather than profits, which he says would make insurance more affordable for everyone.
"I tell high-income folks that, you know, 'You may have a large group plan and you may have insurance – but remember, your daughter might marry a nonprofit worker.'"
According to Gaudette, the average family of four now spends $12,000 to $14,000 a year on health care costs and that is expected to increase to $23,000 in the next 5 to 10 years.