Doctors from all 50 states gathered together at the White House yesterday for an event to show their support for health insurance reform. Alaska was fortunate to have three health care professionals represent us at the discussion with the President, and one of the doctors invited is a committed and active volunteer with our Organizing for America team.
Listen to President Obama's comments to the doctors at the event in the Rose Garden at the White House.
Monique, like most Alaskans, knows that paying for sky-rocketing health care costs and finding a doctor in Alaska are not easy tasks. Over the last decade, when compared to the other 49 states, Alaskan families saw the greatest rate of increase for their health insurance premiums.
Our wages increased by only 35%, but our families’ health insurance premiums increased by 145%.
Let me put it another way: As an Alaskan, for every extra dollar you earn, you have to pay three more dollars for your family's health insurance premium.
We had a chance to catch up with Monique while she was in Phoenix, boarding a flight back to Anchorage. She told us all about her visit to the White House.
Tell us a little bit about your visit. When did you find out you were going? When did you arrive? Had you been to Washington, D.C. before?
I was invited and confirmed to attend just on Friday, but I didn't get to D.C. until 7 am this morning.When I arrived at the White House, I was admitted through the Visitor's Gate, and the Secret Service greeted me and took me on a private tour of the White House, which was amazing. President Obama talked to us at 11:00. It was incredible to be one of a few people who got to hear the President talk about health insurance reform. I know that as a doctor, as an Alaskan, and as an American it was exciting to be there with other doctors who support President Obama's Health Reform Plan. This issue is so important to so many Americans -- and it’s as important to me as a doctor in Alaska.I wish I could have stayed longer because I've only been to Washington, D.C. once before when I was in high school. Pretty much right after the event at the White House, I had to head back to the airport to catch the long flight back home to Anchorage.
I was invited and confirmed to attend just on Friday, but I didn't get to D.C. until 7 am this morning.
When I arrived at the White House, I was admitted through the Visitor's Gate, and the Secret Service greeted me and took me on a private tour of the White House, which was amazing. President Obama talked to us at 11:00. It was incredible to be one of a few people who got to hear the President talk about health insurance reform. I know that as a doctor, as an Alaskan, and as an American it was exciting to be there with other doctors who support President Obama's Health Reform Plan. This issue is so important to so many Americans -- and it’s as important to me as a doctor in Alaska.
I wish I could have stayed longer because I've only been to Washington, D.C. once before when I was in high school. Pretty much right after the event at the White House, I had to head back to the airport to catch the long flight back home to Anchorage.
Of course, we’re all excited to hear that a fellow-Alaskan got to go to the White House. So the obvious question is: Did you get to speak with the President or any other noteworthy person?
No, unfortunately I did not get to meet President Obama. But I did get to talk to a lot of other amazing doctors.
In your conversations with other doctors, what was one of the most compelling reasons you heard about why we need health reform now?
Interesting enough, the reason I couldn't go to the White House until Monday morning was because I am the pediatrician for a new set of twins whose family had serious problems with their insurance company as they were trying to get care for their new babies. Additionally, when I took a taxi to the airport, even my cabdriver told me about his problems with getting health care.I know I have story after story -- like each doctor at the White House and doctors all over the US -- about patients struggling to get the health care they need. I think every person knows their reasons for why Americans need health reform, and your reasons are as good as mine.
Interesting enough, the reason I couldn't go to the White House until Monday morning was because I am the pediatrician for a new set of twins whose family had serious problems with their insurance company as they were trying to get care for their new babies. Additionally, when I took a taxi to the airport, even my cabdriver told me about his problems with getting health care.
I know I have story after story -- like each doctor at the White House and doctors all over the US -- about patients struggling to get the health care they need. I think every person knows their reasons for why Americans need health reform, and your reasons are as good as mine.
As you come back to Alaska from this meeting, what do you think is the most critical thing Alaskans can do to get real reform?
I've been a supporter of health reform for a long time, and I think President Obama's plan to fix the broken system is the best I've seen. I believe that every Alaskan needs to continue having conversations about what real health reform will do for our state and even more importantly our own families. As more and more people become aware that we each know someone harmed by the current system and that our President has a plan, supporters of health reform need to take bigger steps to talk to other Alaskans and tell Senator Begich, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Young that we want real health insurance reform passed this year.
Like Monique said, the best thing Alaskans can do to get health reform that helps Alaskans get quality, affordable health care is to call Senator Begich, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Young. Make your voice heard NOW and let your members of Congress know that you support real health reform.
