Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — We’ve probably all seen them — the canisters at the corner market, the newspaper listing for a weekend fund-raiser or the poster for a spaghetti supper for someone in need of help obtaining medical treatment for one thing or another. But has anyone really stopped and thought about all the under-insured or non-insured people those items represent?
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Phil Bosse, regional representative from Sen. Susan Collin’s office in Caribou, looks through a portfolio of facts and figures presented by Greg Howard, communications director for the Maine Change that Works group. Howard and several group members approached the local office recently, voicing concerns regarding affordable healthcare.
The Maine Change that Works campaign has created a video entitled “Begging for Change” that uses those images to get the point across to officials at all levels of government — local, state and federal — that healthcare reform is a necessity to ensure everyone receives adequate care when it is needed, not just when it can be afforded by an individual or their family. On its Web site, the campaign emphasizes, “Maine families’ urgent need for comprehensive health care reform that includes an affordable public health insurance option.”
“We’ve obtained photos from throughout the state of signs for fund-raisers and canisters asking for spare change to help someone in need, whether it’s a cancer patient, someone who’s had an accident or a child born prematurely. The signs and jars are just paper and glass but each represents an individual,” said Greg Howard, communications director, Maine Change that Works campaign from the Service Employees International Union.
The video also features a song by Peter Alexander, of Portland, also titled “Begging for Change,” that tells the tale of a man who’s lost his health care coverage, needs medical care for a loved one, is too proud to ask for help but has to resort to begging for change to help with medical expenses.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
Shelly Mountain shared her family’s story of struggling with the high cost of healthcare during a gathering July 2, as part of the Maine Change that Works campaign.
To help spread awareness of the problem, campaign participants gathered at Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office in Presque Isle July 2 to present her staff with a copy of the video and information on campaign efforts to improve healthcare for all Mainers. A group also presented a copy of the video to staffers at Sen. Susan Collins’ office in Caribou later the same day.
Several individuals spoke at the Presque Isle gathering, sharing their concerns over the rising cost of health care and how not only individuals struggle with paying for coverage but business owners as well, who want to provide coverage for workers, are finding it difficult to find affordable policies.
Shelly Mountain, of Mapleton, shared her experience of being a small-business owner and how she and her husband struggle with bills for a sick child and how she and others in her position have had to resort to relying on the charity of others.
“Please don’t allow the health care profession to continue” operating like this, said Mountain.
Keith Brown, of Washburn, also spoke at the meeting.
“My wife and I have high deductibles,” said Brown, noting that, with the current state of the economy, medical bills often get paid last. “It’s a personal decision to seek treatment — when a person doesn’t have health coverage, they often don’t seek treatment,” only making the problem worse when they finally do seek medical care.
Pastor Dorothy Matson, who represents four local Methodist churches, aired her concerns over the current state of health care.
“Too often, health care is determined by the bottom line, not what’s best. It’s the medical profession who determines treatment based on medical coverage,” said Matson. “In a country that claims freedom and justice for all, that equates to freedom to be greedy. People need our help and they need it now. We urge those with the power to turn this around to do it now.”
During the presentation at Snowe’s office, Troy Haines, a local business owner, said he’d like to do more for his employees but was not able to do so because of the high cost for coverage.
“I’m the owner of a small business. I would like to provide coverage for my employees but just can’t afford it,” said Haines. “If coverage was more affordable, I’d gladly be providing it.”
Those taking part in the event in Presque Isle included: Howard; Mountain; Brown; Matson; Haines; Alice Bolstridge; Danette Madore; Martha Grant; Janet Snowe; Richard Robles; Judy Hilton; Gail Maynard; Mike Mclean; Shawna Lyons; Buddy Lacombe; Andy Dyer; Mike DeWitt; Holly Handren; and Kimberly Rohn, Maine staff assistant at Snowe’s office.
Maine Change that Works is still collecting information about local fund-raising efforts. If you see a ‘Begging for Change’ can or sign, please send a photo of it to: healthcarecans@gmail.com or text to 207-232-2863. For more information, visit www.seiu.org/changethatworks/maine.
