WASHINGTON, August 26 - Students and other young adults joined Congressional leaders on Wednesday to stress that America's young people urgently need health care reform.
Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Assistant to the Speaker, joined Rock the Vote, the United States Students Association and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group at the “Health Insurance Reform: What's in it for Young People?” conference in the Speaker's Dining Room (H-122).
One out of three 18-29 year olds does not have health care coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Abby Berendt Lavoi, a 27-year-old graduate of the Colorado State University discovered she had a tumor and required immediate surgery ten months into her job: “I didn’t have health insurance when I got sick- Employees at my company only got the privilege of health care after 12 months.” As a result, her parents had to refinance their home to help her pay the $12,000 medical bills.
Berendt Lavoi, who attended the conference at the invitation of U.S. PIRG said, “Everyone should have the right to get help when they need it, not just after a waiting period. To achieve the American dream, to live the American dream, we must reform health care now.”
Congressional leaders organized the press conference in order to stress that health care reform is vital for young Americans.
In Washington and across the country, U.S. PIRG has been working with business groups, unions, and grassroots organizations to help Americans understand the importance of passing health care reform legislation with its "Making Health Care Work" campaign. Getting young adults to understand how reform can benefit them is absolutely crucial, explained Larry McNeely, U.S. PIRG's Health Care Advocate.
“Young people who can’t afford insurance are one automobile accident away from ruined health and potential bankruptcy…just when they’re getting started in life," McNeely said after the conference.
“Guaranteeing that we can afford coverage that will be there when we need it is something the next generation is willing to fight for," he added.
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U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups, is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization. For more on U.S. PIRG's "Making Health Care Work" campaign, click here.
