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Protesters visit BCBSNC to urge a public option

Posted on July 16, 2009July 16, 2009 by Staff

Cheryl Moon and Jerry Thompson display the medical bills that have driven Thompson into bankruptcy at a rally for health care reform held in front of Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters on Wednesday. Photo by Taylor Sisk.By Taylor Sisk
Staff Writer

Fifty-plus passionate protesters gathered Wednesday morning in front of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina headquarters on U.S. 15-501 to protest the insurer’s opposition to a publicly funded health care option. The public option is intended to provide a lower-cost alternative for quality health care and is a key plank in President Obama’s health care reform platform.

In recognition of “We Can’t Wait for Affordable Health Care” day, state employees and other concerned citizens turned out to hear several speakers, voice their own concerns and wave signs to the commiserating horns of passing motorists.

The event was sponsored by the State Employees Association of North Carolina in conjunction with the Service Employees International Union’s “Change that Works” campaign. Blue Cross runs the state’s health care plan for its employees and recently drew criticism after higher than expected costs for the plan led to higher premiums, co-pays and deductibles.

SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope holds up a photo of BCBSNC CEO 
Bob Greczyn as he exhorts health care reform advocates to band together. Photo by Taylor Sisk.SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope exhorted those in favor of affordable health care in general, and a public option in particular, to band together” and be heard.

“We need Blue Cross to stop using our premiums to prevent real health care reform and to stop standing in the way of a public option,” said Adam Searing of the of the N.C. Justice Center’s Health Access Coalition.

Searing was referring to advertisements Blue Cross has had produced, but that haven’t aired, warning against the potential effects of a public option. Storyboards of those ads were published by The Washington Post. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has a 72.5 percent market share of individual and employer-provided health insurance in North Carolina.

In response to the protest, Blue Cross officials reiterated the company’s position that while it supports many aspects of the reform legislation, it opposes the public option because it would create an uneven playing field for insurance companies who would have to compete with a public plan.

At the protest, many were as angry with politicians as they were insurers.

“The people are ahead of the politicians on this one,” said protester Lauri Hoyt of Carrboro.

“Politicians need to start listening to what the people want and what they desperately need instead of to those who finance their campaigns.”

“Nobody should work a lifetime and end up being in debt over medical bills,” said Cheryl Moon, who was attending with her friend Jerry Thompson, both retired state employees. Thompson, who is a Vietnam veteran, suffers from an illness that has required 23 visits to Wake Medical Center in the past 20 months. Escalating medical costs have been a major factor in his decision to declare bankruptcy. Moon presented what she called a “box of bankruptcy,” which contained bills Thompson has incurred for his treatments.

“We want to let people know that just because you have medical care, you don’t necessarily have adequate coverage,” Moon said, adding that state employees need a public option.

Moon said she wanted Blue Cross to “recognize that their system’s not working for the average person. We’ve got to see a change.”

“I’m really energized,” Searing said of Wednesday’s turnout.

“Blue Cross seems so powerful. But to see so many people out shows that people are angry,” he added, as a passing service van sounded its horn.

Photo by Taylor Sisk.

1 thought on “Protesters visit BCBSNC to urge a public option”

  1. jacksmith says:
    July 16, 2009 at 8:11 am

    THIS IS IT!

    The healthcare reform bill released by the House Of Representatives is an excellent bill as I understand it. It is carefully written, and thoughtfully constructed, informed, prudent and wise. This bill will save trillions of dollars, and millions of your lives.

    This is the type of bill that all Americans can feel good about. And this is the type of bill that has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of healthcare for all Americans. Rich, middle class and poor a like. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and all other party affiliations. This bill has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of life of every American.

    The house healthcare bill should be viewed as the minimum GOLD STANDARD by which all other proposed healthcare legislation should be judged. All supporters of true high quality healthcare reform should now place all your support behind this healthcare reform bill released by the United States House Of Representatives, as the minimum Gold standard for healthcare reform in America.

    You should all now support this bill with all your might, and all of your unrelenting tenacity. This healthcare bill is a VERY, VERY GOOD! bill for all of the American people. Fight tooth, and nail for every bit of this bill if you have too. Be aggressive, creative, and relentless for this bill.

    AND FIGHT!! like your life and the lives of your loved ones depends on it. BECAUSE IT DOES!

    SPREAD THE WORD

    (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)

    God Bless You

    Jack Smith — Working Class

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