DeLauro says time right for health reform [New Haven Register, Conn.]

Jul. 14--In an area of Greater New Haven Town Hall style telephone Monday evening, U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, has reaffirmed its belief that the health system is failing, and the time has come for a major overhaul.

"Some argue that we can not reform health care now, she says." The longer we wait, the more things will happen. We need to reform our health care system broken. "

DeLauro said, even before the recession, 46 million Americans are without coverage for health care. Today, 14,000 people lose coverage every day, she added. Barack Obama President has asked Congress to establish a comprehensive project to reform health care and get it next month.

DeLauro, who is in Washington, D.C., working on that bill, held the hourlong question-and-answer session and was joined by Connecticut Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo and Karin Politz, research professor at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University.

The first call came from a woman in Bethany who asked DeLauro why singlepayerhealthcare,government-controlled universal insurance, is off the table.

"There is real merit to a single-payer system," DeLauro said. "And there is a strong contingent within the Congress and outside the Congress that support single payer. I must be honest with you: It is not truly the will of the country to move in the direction of a single-payer option."

However, DeLauro noted there is broad support for a public option for medical insurance and that the goal of reform is to provide options for people who can't afford good health insurance under the current system.


"This is essentially about providing insurance that you can never lose, making sure that the control is with the people and not the insurance companies, and lowering costs," she said.

A key component of the reform bill is the elimination of coverage denials for "pre-existing conditions."

"No one should go into debt because they had the misfortune of getting sick," she said.

One mother called in to say she does not want to lose her ability to choose whatever doctor she wants for her family.

DeLauro stressed that people who like their current medical plans can keep them. Politz echoed her sentiment.

"I am a cancer survivor. I have a team of doctors who, thanks to them, I am here today. I don't want to see other doctors," Politz said. She added that under the current system, people often have to change medical plans and doctors when they switch jobs.

A man from Derby called to ask how the plan is going to be paid for.