Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 7, 1994 TAG: 9408090005
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: D5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Age: Brenda, 30; Colvin, 42; Bethany, 7; Travis, 5
Community: Christiansburg
Occupation: Brenda, restaurant server; Colvin, laid off from his job as a lab technician, is retraining for a new job at New River Community College
Insurance: Brenda works for a restaurant that is self-insured.
Problem: Brenda Franklin provides health insurance for most of her family through her employer. However, her son, Travis, has been turned down for insurance because he has a history of ear infections. She was told to reapply for him after one year.
The Franklins spend several hundred dollars per year on health care for Travis. They make do by taking him to the health department for immunization shots, but are afraid to put in any claims for their daughter or themselves because they don't want to appear too expensive to cover. They have come to look upon their policy - for which they pay $60 per month in premiums - as something to use in emergencies only.
How some reform bills could affect them:
HOUSE LEADERSHIP BILL: Denying coverage or raising rates for pre-existing conditions would be prohibited. Employers would pay 80 percent of the cost of insurance.
SENATE LEADERSHIP BILL: Denying coverage or raising rates for pre-existing conditions would be prohibited. Employers would not immediately be required to contribute to the cost of employee's health insurance.
SINGLE PAYER BILL: Automatic coverage for all, paid for with a payroll tax.
What she'd like to see: Universal coverage.
"Something's wrong when you can't get insurance for a 5-year-old," she said. "It's just frustrating."
Name: Brenda and Colvin Franklin and their children, Travis and Bethany
Age: Brenda, 30; Colvin, 42; Bethany, 7; Travis, 5
Community: Christiansburg
Occupation: Brenda, restaurant server; Colvin, laid off from his job as a lab technician, is retraining for a new job at New River Community College
Insurance: Brenda works for a restaurant that is self-insured.
Problem: Brenda Franklin provides health insurance for most of her family through her employer. However, her son, Travis, has been turned down for insurance because he has a history of ear infections. She was told to reapply for him after one year.
The Franklins spend several hundred dollars per year on health care for Travis. They make do by taking him to the health department for immunization shots, but are afraid to put in any claims for their daughter or themselves because they don't want to appear too expensive to cover. They have come to look upon their policy - for which they pay $60 per month in premiums - as something to use in emergencies only.
How some reform bills could affect them:
HOUSE LEADERSHIP BILL: Denying coverage or raising rates for pre-existing conditions would be prohibited. Employers would pay 80 percent of the cost of insurance.
SENATE LEADERSHIP BILL: Denying coverage or raising rates for pre-existing conditions would be prohibited. Employers would not immediately be required to contribute to the cost of employee's health insurance.
SINGLE PAYER BILL: Automatic coverage for all, paid for with a payroll tax.
What she'd like to see: Universal coverage.
"Something's wrong when you can't get insurance for a 5-year-old," she said. "It's just frustrating."
by CNB