Letter: Thanks to all who helped draw attention to the uninsured in our area
May 12, 2008
To the Editor:
As the southeast Ohio grassroots coordinator for Ohio Consumers for Healthcare Coverage (OCHC), I would like to take a moment to thank several people for their support during Cover the Uninsured Week. I would like to thank the Athens County Commissioners for taking the time during their busy meeting to proclaim April 27-May 3 Cover the Uninsured Week in Athens County. In so doing they recognized that there are indeed 8,900 uninsured adults and 800 uninsured children living right here in Athens County.
I would also like to thank Family Healthcare, Inc. and its executive director, Mark Bridenbaugh, for the use of FHC’s facility to release the Policy Matters Ohio report: “Reasonable costs: What can Ohioans afford to pay for Health Care?”. I would also like to acknowledge their willingness to speak out on issues of health-care affordability. I am not sure how many citizens of our county realize the incredible work that goes on at Family Healthcare on Plains Road. They treat adults and children, no matter what their insurance status is. They never turn away a patient for the inability to pay.
The report we released states that people with income less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level cannot afford to contribute to their health care, without sacrificing other basic needs. Our state officials are trying to find a solution to the affordability and attainability issues we all face when it comes to health-care coverage.
They must recognize that uninsured persons below 200 percent of poverty (and higher depending on family size) need health care without costly premiums, deductibles and co-pays!
No one, under any circumstances, should have to choose between a mortgage payment and a doctor visit for themselves or for their sick child. The choice between quality of life and health care is not something to be taken lightly. We need to stand up as consumers and make sure that the plan is the right one, that won’t leave anyone out or be unaffordable. If you are a consumer living in the Athens area and would like to join the fight in finding a proper solution to access to health care, please contact me at 818-8460.
Margaret Demko
Mill Street
Albany
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