Miller Says Fixing Health Care in America Should be an Economic and a Moral Priority

Raleigh, N.C. – Reps. Brad Miller (NC-13) hosted a press briefing today with three Triangle residents who say the need for Health Care Reform is crucial for American families, including their own.

"Health insurance premiums have more than doubled since 2000, straining family budgets, and the increasing cost of health insurance is putting coverage out of reach for many small to midsize companies and their workers," said Rep. Miller. "We spend far, far more than other countries and Americans are less healthy and don’t live as long."

Miller said changes are needed in health insurance because people lose their insurance when they get sick and lose their jobs, change jobs or have pre-existing conditions.

Miller was joined by Lydia Tolar of Cary who is a breast cancer survivor; Sally Bean of Granville County, a retired school teacher whose husband has been diagnosed with cancer; and Dr. Anthony Titus of Chapel Hill whose son was stricken with childhood leukemia. Each family has struggled with the fear of losing insurance or not being able to pay for it. For some, finding new insurance to cover the medical needs of their loved ones is the challenge.

"We have tried to work so hard all of our lives and do the things we thought we were supposed to do," said Bean. "We are now 56 years and we are looking at the possibility of losing our home."

"Fixing health care in America should be an economic and a moral priority," Miller said.