We Must Reform Health Care

Did you see or hear President Obama's Weekly Radio Address today? It's all about health care. Health care is tantamount to a healthy economy.

If you think quality, affordable health care is a luxury and not a necessity, then you should know that according to the National Coalition on Health Care, 50% of all personal bankruptcies are due in at least some part to out of control medical expenses and that 68% of people filing bankruptcy had health insurance. The American Journal of Medicine says that over 60% of bankruptcies in 2007 were due to medical expenses and that 80% of those people had health insurance. Additionally, 1.5 million families per year are foreclosed on because of unaffordable medical costs. There is something fundamentally wrong with our country that we make people chose between treating medical conditions and keeping a roof over their heads. We should be ashamed.

Fortunately, President Obama is committed to health care reform. I believe that when it is all said and done we will end up with a revamped health care system that allows people to continue the coverage they have if they like it or opt into a single-payer system. At least that is my hope.