Margret Torres, who is an ACORN
member and former paralegal with a college degree in communications, is not is
someone who you would typically think would be without health insurance, but
she is just one of more than five million Texans with no health insurance.
"I
have a brain tumor that is now in remission, but it is impossible for me
to get good health coverage. I tried to get health insurance, but the only
coverage I could get was too expensive and excluded anything having to do with
my tumor. Without proper healthcare, my health has continued to go downhill.
That makes it harder for me to stay employed. Not having health insurance
affects everything in my life."
Torres spoke out about the health
care crisis along with other Houston residents at a town hall meeting hosted by
a both state representatives and several non-profit groups.
"With
so many Texans being uninsured and underinsured, it's important for the
Legislature to hear the concerns of our constituents on this issue. All Texans
should have access to affordable healthcare." said Representative Coleman,
who has been a champion of health care in the Texas Legislature and serves on
the Public Health committee.
"Increasing access to private
health insurance would benefit consumers and insurers, and it would stabilize
Texas' health care system for all of us," said Bee Moorhead, director of
the interfaith advocacy group Texas Impact. "With the ongoing Sunset
review of the Texas Department of Insurance, it's a great time for legislators
to strengthen the market so more Texans can participate in it."
“State agencies must go through a
sunset review every twelve years” explains TexPIRG staff member Christopher
Whitaker, “the process only provides one chance for public testimony and so our
coalition is holding these town hall meetings to give the public multiple
chances to have their say on health care.”
Several religious and non-profit
groups will present their case for insurance reform at a hearing on June 24th.
The reforms include rate
regulation for health insurance, and strengthening the state agencies that
oversee health insurance.
Coalition member and deputy director
of the Texas Legal Services Center Bruce Bower said, “The hard-working people
of Texas deserve health insurance at a cost they can afford that provides
timely access to comprehensive high quality health care.”
