John Rother Video: Fixing Health Care

More than 14,000 Americans lose their health insurance every day. Health reform would keep you covered.

Source: AARP.org | 2009-08-28

In a new series of videos on YouTube, AARP's policy director, John Rother, talks about how various aspects of health-care reform would help Americans and their families.

In this video in the series, he addresses people who currently have health insurance, explaining how health reform would benefit their financial security and peace of mind.

Here is the transcript of his comments.

"What if you already have health insurance through your employer? What does health care reform have to offer YOU?

A great deal. Hello, I'm John Rother of AARP. And I'd like to offer some straight talk.

This isn't about "other" people. It's about you and your family. It's about your future.

You've probably noticed that premiums are skyrocketing. They've doubled in eight years, and there's no end in sight.

But you're also paying a price in ways that aren’t so obvious.

If you have an employer plan, you’re paying for it with lower wages. You’re also being charged to cover people who don't have insurance.

These costs are rising fast. But the potential costs you face are even more dangerous. Hopefully, you won’t suffer a major illness. But if you do, it could ruin you financially.

We often hear from people who are shocked to learn what their insurance does NOT cover.

Three-fourths of people who go bankrupt because of medical bills actually had coverage. [New York Times 7/1/09]

But let's say you are satisfied with your insurance coverage. How safe you are from losing it?

The answer for a lot of people is: Less safe than you realize. This can happen if you lose your job, or you change jobs. Or maybe your employer stops offering health care.

Right now, more than 14,000 people are losing coverage every day. [Families USA]
Every day.

When that happens, you and your family are at the mercy of the individual insurance market, which can turn down--or charge unaffordable premiums--to anyone they think might get sick.

All the problems I've described are getting worse.

They are affecting more people every day including people who thought they had nothing to worry about.

The hopeful news is that health care reform would protect you and your family.
Health reform would guarantee that you always have choices of quality, affordable coverage no matter what happens.

That's whether you lose your job, get sick or switch jobs for any reason. These aren't rare events that only happen to "other" people. These things happen all the time.

They could happen to you.

And if they do, don't you want protection you can count on?"