Kansans weigh in on health care reform

Have your say, too

Congress’ efforts to overhaul the nation’s health care system have business owners, insurance providers, doctors and the average Joe sitting on pins and needles.

What lawmakers do — or don’t do — could profoundly affect Americans.

One point everyone seems to agree on is that the current system is greatly flawed. Health care costs are too high, and too many Americans have no insurance.

So it seems clear that some sort of action is needed.

Since 2000, average family premiums have increased by 105 percent in Kansas. The average cost of family premiums is $12,783 — the annual salary of a person who works full time, at minimum wage.

Meanwhile, 13 percent of Kansans are uninsured, and 71 percent of them are in families with at least one full-time worker.

The Journal-World contacted a variety of people, asking them to weigh in on health care reform. We posed these questions: What is the primary problem with our current system? What should be included in any legislative reform? What is their biggest fear when it comes to health care reform?

Follow the links below to see what the following Kansans have to say:

• Graham Bailey, vice president of public relations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas

• Rod Bremby, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

• Corrie Edwards, executive director, Kansas Health Consumer Coalition

• Jerry Kemberling, Unemployed, Lawrence

• Gene Meyer, CEO/president, Lawrence Memorial Hospital

• Marcia Nielsen, vice chancellor for public policy and planning, Kansas University Medical Center

• Sandy Praeger, Kansas insurance commissioner

• Jon Stewart, Director, LEO Center

• Judy Bellome, executive director of Douglas County Visiting Nurses, Rehabilitation and Hospice Care

• Dr. Alan Cowles, Social Security disability benefits advocate

• Marcia Epstein, director of Headquarters Counseling Center in Lawrence

• Dr. David Goering, medical director for Health Care Access

• Mitzi McFatrich, executive director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care

• Dan Partridge, Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department director

• Margie Wakefield, small business owner

What would your answers be? Please leave your comments in the section below.