Ohio Responds to AFL-CIO "Health Care for America" Survey

Karen is a cancer survivor from Columbus and, like millions of Americans, she’s been hurt by the flaws in our health care system.

I have an ongoing health dilemma. Because I had thyroid cancer when I was a teenager, I don't have a thyroid or parathyroid gland, which means I need a pill to live for the rest of my life, plus regular checkups to make sure my cancer stays in remission. There are tests that I should be getting that I don't; I can't get Medicaid because I'm single without children, and most healthcare packages that are offered when I am working are too expensive for me to afford. I've had good jobs but lately you find the ones that want to claim you're full time but don't allow you to actually get enough hours to receive the benefits you should be allowed to receive. What is a person supposed to do? It's extremely frustrating to have to choose between eating and your health so often, or racking up bills you can't really pay.

Unfortunately, Karen isn’t alone. In Ohio, more than 1.1 million people are uninsured, while many of those who have insurance are denied coverage and face skyrocketing costs and shrinking benefits. Stories like Karen’s come from around the state and around the country, as we’ve learned from the AFL-CIO 2008 Health Care for America Survey.

In January, we at the AFL-CIO, in partnership with our community affiliate, Working America, launched an online health care survey to encourage people to tell their stories and provide data that we plan to present to 2008 candidates for public office at all levels. In seven weeks, more than 26,000 people took the survey, and nearly 7,500, like Karen, took time to describe their personal experiences with the U.S. health care system. (You can read the results and the stories here.)

Some 96 percent of Ohio residents aren’t satisfied with our health care system, the survey shows. Though 74 percent say they and their families have some insurance, 55 percent of those people say that even with insurance, they aren’t getting the health care they need at a price they can afford.

Here are a few more findings from around Ohio:

* Most who responded are college educated, have jobs and insurance—but many STILL can't get the care they need or can afford.
* Thirty-seven percent report skipping medical care because of cost, and 30 percent had serious problems paying for the care they needed.
* Some 74 percent of those with health insurance worry about losing coverage because they may lose or change jobs.
* Ninety-five percent say America’s health care system needs fundamental change or to be completely rebuilt.

John, an Ohio engineer, has had enough.

At present, my daughter has two serious illnesses. She works part time, and I pay the premiums for her health insurance and help her with her co-pays with my retirement income. One of her illnesses costs $1,400 a month for medication. A private foundation helps with the payments. We are trying to avoid state support for her medical expenses. It is essential that someone like her be able to get affordable health coverage with no denials for existing conditions and aid if I'm no longer here to help. The state of the health system in this country is a disgrace and must be fixed.

Health care will be a major issue in the 2008 presidential and congressional campaigns, say 79 percent of Ohio respondents—and 97 percent say they do plan to vote this fall. To learn more about the AFL-CIO’s efforts for affordable, quality health care for all, click here.