Speakers at health care forum agree on need for reform

Harlin Griffith of Cape Girardeau isn't against health care reform but is concerned a change for the better in the system could be hampered by politics and a mounting national debt.

"Something needs to be done but it all costs money," said Griffith, who retired in March after 30 years with the Cape Girardeau Public Works department. "I'm hoping the politicians don't mess it up. If they do there will be payback come election time."

Griffith's concern was one of many opinions voiced by those attending Thursday's health care forum in Cape Girardeau, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons. Jay Hardenbrook of AARP, Brian Colby of the Missouri Health Advocacy Alliance and Will Richardson of the SEMO Alliance for Disability Insurance offered opinions and answered questions from some of the 40 people who attended the event at Mount Auburn Christian Church.

Colby said that while disagreement persists on the issue, most agree that some form of health care reform is needed.

"The costs keep going up," Colby said. "We need to do something to make it more affordable for everybody.

"It's a changing landscape and there's a lot of information out there," Colby said. "We may not know until the end of the year whether there will be health reform or not."

A recently released report by Aon Consulting found that costs for employer-provided health plans are expected to increase by 10 percent by August 2010. The group found that insurers expect they'll pay 10.5 percent more in claims costs next year.

In its study, Families USA found that Missourians' health care premiums are increasing at a faster rate than their wages. The employer's share of premiums for family health insurance coverage from 2000 to 2009 will have jumped 71.2 percent, from $5,317 to $9,103. A worker's part rose 125.1 percent, from $1,414 to $3,182.

Congress has been working on a solution to health care reform, a priority of President Barack Obama. Proponents of the government option contend it is critical to give the private sector competition while opponents have voiced concern that it would lead to a government takeover of health insurance.

"Hopefully they will come up with a bipartisan bill that both parties will support," Hardenbrook said. "Since Congress has been [in] recess it's given them time to have more discussions like we're having here."

Among the questions asked was the reason for the rise in health care costs.

Colby said that it could be because of an increasing aging population that needs more costly health care or the lack of one universal system that insurance companies could use.

Another question asked was if legislation would force those who have private insurance to give it up.

Colby believes that won't happen.

"No one will force you to change," Colby said.

Later, Hardenbrook addressed the misperception that the AARP supports the legislation.

"The AARP supports health care reform but does not endorse any type of legislation," Hardenbrook said. "Our policy is not to endorse the bill until we look at everything in the bill."

When asked how health care, which has been estimated to cost more than $1 trillion, would be paid for, Richardson said paying the price now would be cheaper in the long run than paying for a system that continues to see a rise in costs.

"What we're in the process of is building a health care system, which we don't have a clear cut one in this country," Richardson said. "I've dealt with people in their 50s and 60s who can't afford COBRA but aren't able to get insured by private companies. We have this black hole where people in the 50-to-64 age bracket need it more and more."

Minnie May of Piedmont, Mo., said that health care for the elderly and all other ages is a necessity, whether it's a public option or another type of health care reform.

"I hope we can do this without fussing and fighting," May said. "It's not a political issue. It's a human issue."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

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