By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-858501.mp3
Dallas, TX –
The health reform debate moves back to Washington next week when the Congressional summer break ends. KERA's Bill Zeeble talked to one Dallas woman who sought health insurance help from both Republican Pete Sessions and Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson.
Jacqui Mekias' husband, a 54-year old transplant recipient, was laid off last December, in this sick economy. The family could afford Cobra coverage, thanks to the stimulus package discount. But Mekias says that runs out soon. Her husband's anti-rejection drugs will then jump to 15-hundred dollars a month.
Mekias: Without this reform, without a strong minimal reform, my husband will die. There are no jobs to be found. For those who say slow down, who say why are we in such a hurry, I'm in a hurry. My time is running out. My husband's time is running out. This could happen to anyone.
Mekias says her husband isn't eligible for government help, because he's otherwise healthy, thanks to the drugs. But he can't get insurance, because of the pre-existing transplant condition. A weeks ago, Mekias took her plight to Pete Sessions, at an Irving Town Hall meeting. Like similar gatherings nationwide, it was captured on YouTube. In a high school gym, Sessions patiently listened to Mekias's plight, and said he could not sign on to the Democratic plan. He said it would cost too much, and would not solve her problem without also interfering with insurance many now have who like their coverage.
Congressman Pete Sessions: I'm not on the bill because people need to speak to the President when he goes around the country. And to say Mr. President let's not do a $1,600,000,000,000 bill. Let's aim where the problem is and let's help people and let's go make it easier and better 110 And this President needs to hear from you and others and do something about the problem, not over everybody in here and ruining Medicare.
Mekias rejected Sessions, whom she says sees her husband as collateral damage in this reform debate. So she backs Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson, who favors of a government sponsored health insurance option.
Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson: We've got to do this. We've been working on this for 44 years. The public option is what they're targeting because they call it this government run program. Actually, the truth is there's a way to do this and it will work well. But it'll give insurance companies some competition. That's what they're trying to avoid.
Congress returns to the nation's capital the day after Labor Day.