Young Health Care Activist Discusses Health Insurance Industry Abuses

Senate Democratic leadership today joined 11-year-old Marcelas Owens to rally support for an end to insurance industry abuses. Marcelas has been an advocate for health care reform since his mother died after she fell ill and lost her job and insurance coverage. "I am here because of my mom," said Owens. "My mom was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2006. She missed so much work she lost her job. And when my mom lost her job, she lost her health care. And losing her health care ended up costing her her life." Senate Democrats are working to put an end to insurance industry abuses that have denied coverage to hard working Americans when they get sick and need it the most.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Democrats
• Marcelas
• Owens
• young
• health
• care
• activist
• end
• insurance
• company
• abuses
• lost
• job
• denied
• coverage
• sick
• ill
• Congress
• Barack
• Obama

[gdigger99]

I'm a 23 year old newlywed, full-time college student who can afford health care but can not receive it. My husband and I make well over the $88,000 tax bracket to receive anyother other benefits from the health care bill, but are 110% for it! Everyone will benefit from it eventually, if not now, then when you are a senior citizen. How can you deny the most basic aspect of life to anyone--their health?

[VoiceHunter]

And the GOP still doesn't understand how their sweethearts, the health insurance companies, are murdering people daily. It's extremely depressing how people like Marcelas are attacked for speaking up about what the REAL pro-life people believe in: an entitlement to health care. The GOP just think that Democrats are "using" victims of the current system because want another bill under their belt. Simply appalling.

Bold move, Marcelas. Keep fighting for what's right!

[ChasingSatanAway]

"Our health care delivery system, such as it is, is designed to cover the oldest and the youngest most say, but for everyone in between (that's most of the people in this country) it's beyond broken."

The "inbetweeners" are the parents, the teachers, the doctors, the entire workforce in this country; these are the people who keep this country moving forward, so how can they be left so unprotected? We need change!

[kipmissy]

Same old Democrat playbook...bring out a sob story that is truly sad but is an exception and not the rule. We all have heard stories like this but if you look at the polls the vast majority is happy with their insurance.

[emcallison1]

why are the democrats talking about 70 people dying a day and they arent even going to give the benefits until 2014.

[jimisback]

If it is life threatening she has to be treated. It is the law.

[VictoryCough]

If we really feel that we are entitled to ones service and time, why don't we just force doctors to accept lower prices?

We do not have an access problem, but after any reform we will.

Stories that are truly sad, like this, will be gone. It will be children dying because they can't get medical treatment.

[82atari5200]

If It's SOOOO important and time is of the essence then why does it not go into effect immediately. Why do we still have to wait for 4 years???? How many people will die in those 4 years? Same old tired democrat tactics....old people eat dog food, kids go to school hungry.....Get a job.

[misscyndi13]

Marcelas,

My mom died in December of Pulmonary Hypertension also. I know the pain you are feeling and I am enlightened by your spirit. You are an amazing, strong and courageous boy. Your mom would be so proud of you.

May God Bless you and your family and heal you.

Miss Cyndi

[DillonX]

I was paying about $600 per month to Blue Cross for what I thought was a top-notch policy, but then after paying tens of thousands over a number of years my doctor said I needed some tests - but getting approval from Blue Cross was difficult.

It's like they want to delay as much as they can - hoping people will die in the meantime.