Speakers flay state of health insurance

The state of health insurance in the United States equates to a social crime, a gathering organized by a workers' rights group was told Tuesday.

Warren Brodhead addressed a group of about 20 at the Salt Lake City Main Library. His comments were followed by statements by two local experts and then the testimonies of four Utah residents who told of their plight in fighting against private health insurance companies. All agreed that health insurance in the United States has worsened during the past three decades.

The speakers addressed a board of community leaders sponsored by Utah Jobs With Justice, a nonprofit organization "committed to a long-term campaign for workers' rights."

The board, composed Tuesday of four members, was charged with choosing a stance to adopt in terms of public health policy. Its members, Gina Gordin, Kyle Wulle, Archie Archuletta and Dee Rowland, can use the power of their community influence to put the board's decision in place, said Brodhead, who acted as moderator at Tuesday's meeting.

Board member Wayne Holland Jr. was absent from the meeting.

After the four board members had stepped out for about 20 minutes to find consensus toward the end of the two-hour meeting, they made an announcement: "We believe that for-profit health insurance is a thing of the past," said Wulle, speaking for the group. "Single-payer insurance is probably the way to go."

Wulle said that the board would probably support U.S. House Resolution 676, which has been dubbed the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act.

Single-payer insurance was one of three options for insurance reform Brodhead offered at the beginning of the meeting. The option would require governments or nonprofit groups to organize insurance for everyone.

Other options for reform included an incremental approach, such as expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program, and state-mandated private insurance care for all.

Tammi Diaz, who received a severe head injury during an automobile-pedestrian crash years ago, told the board and audience that she is stuck in her Medicaid program. Her husband can't make any more money, or she would be kicked off the program and unable to pay for care, she said. And if she makes any money selling the crafts she makes, she'd similarly be kicked off.

Diaz could be forced to divorce in order to remain eligible for needed care, she said.

"This nation was founded on families, and we should help one another," she said at the close of her short, labored testimony.

Following Diaz's testimony, Rowland said, "The impact of health insurance policies on the economy is just incredible."