Hall Meets with Poughkeepsie Family Helped by Health Care Reform Bill

Poughkeepsie, NY - U.S. Rep. John Hall (NY-19) met today with Maria Pallo and her family in their Poughkeepsie home to talk about how the landmark health insurance reform legislation will benefit them.

Congressman Hall's visit was part of his regular "Congress in Your Kitchen" events that allow constituents to talk with him at length in an informal matter about issues that directly affect their lives. Yesterday he met with Rebecca Castellanos and her children in their New Windsor, NY home, also regarding health care.

Congressman Hall met with Maria, her husband Tom, and the couple's 13-year-old son, Jeffrey. Maria Pallo was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005 and given a dire prognosis. She had no prior health issues and there was no family history of cancer. Both Maria and her husband, Tom Pallo, worked for A&P Supermarket. After her diagnosis she switched to part-time work. Meanwhile, her health insurance coverage (with Blue Cross) continued through her husband's full-time position. Last year, however, she exceeded the cap for Blue Cross's cancer coverage. She was declared disabled, and now she has Medicare along with gap coverage through Mutual of Omaha.

Maria Pallo and Rep. Hall discussed how the new health insurance law will protect American's from the whims of insurance companies.

Pallo thanked Congressman Hall for his support of the health insurance bill. Pallo said, "I think [the bill] is a great start to solving a big problem that affects many Americans." She described hitting the coverage cap during her cancer treatments as "scary," and she expressed relief that annual limits on the dollar amount of coverage will be immediately restricted, and by 2014, removed altogether. "You have no idea how fast medical bills can deplete your savings," Pallo said. The Pallos ended up maxing out their credit cards and borrowing against their home to pay for her medical bills.

Congressman Hall explained to Maria and Tom Pallo how the new health insurance reform bill pertained to their family's situation, such as prohibiting health plans and insurance companies from denying health insurance coverage to individuals and protecting beneficiaries from exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses. Also, Hall pointed out the new bill makes it illegal for insurance companies to charge women more than men for the same coverage--an industry practice known as "gender rating."

From Left to Right, Jeffrey Pallo and his mother Maria, sit with Rep. Hall.

Also attending Cong. Hall's meeting with the Pallos was Sandi Cassese, New York State Lead Legislative Ambassador of the American Cancer Society Action Network and Vice President of Oncology and Ambulatory Services at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. "The road to meaningful health reform has been long and difficult, and the new law is not perfect, but what was accomplished has the potential to significantly reduce suffering and death from cancer," said Cassese. "Thank you, Congressman Hall, for putting patients before politics by voting in favor of meaningful health care reform, and for bringing us closer to guaranteeing access to affordable, adequate health care for all Americans."