07/21/2008
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Rep. Joe Pitts and Sen. Rosalind Kurita explained the status of the state's CoverTN health insurance program for small business at NFIB's healthcare forum with Clarksville leaders. The grassroots meeting was held at Green Bank in downtown Clarksville with the support of the Clarksville Chamber. |
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NFIB members Steve and Pam Claxton used the forum as an opportunity to share concerns and listen to legislators and other small business owners. Steve Claxton said he wasn't sure he would attend the healthcare forum, but his wife, Pam, insisted they go. "I'm glad we did," Steve Claxton said. "I got a lot out of it." |
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NFIB/Tennessee State Director Jim Brown moderated the lively 90-minute discussion. |
Steve and Pam Claxton's health plan had preapproved the costly surgery their son needed to correct a severe overbite. His doctors, however, said it would be several months before he would be ready for the procedure.
The delay proved costly. Shortly before the operation, the Claxtons learned their insurance company had changed the terms of their policy. It would no longer cover the procedure.
Steve Claxton, an NFIB member who owns Clarksville Memorial Co., said he and his wife spent six months appealing the company's decision before giving up and paying the $24,500 medical bill.
"The doctors and the hospital were great," giving the family the same discounts they would give a large health plan, but dealing with the insurance company was a nightmare, Claxton said.
The Claxtons were among 15 small business owners who attended NFIB/Tennessee's healthcare forum in Clarksville on July 18.
"We hold these forums to be sure we're hearing from our members on key issues like healthcare," said NFIB/Tennessee State Director Jim Brown, who moderated the discussion. "Listening to the Claxtons' story was particularly painful, but we know these exchanges prove the problems in healthcare are cutting and real. The forums give legislators and NFIB members important takeaways, and it motivates us to find solutions."
Joining Brown on the panel was Sen. Rosalind Kurita and Rep. Joe Pitts from Clarksville, CEO of Gateway Medical Center Michael Mullins, and Bonnie Fertig of AARP. NFIB has joined AARP, the Service Employees International Union and Business Roundtable in the Divided We Fail coalition, which promotes a broad-based, bipartisan solution to the nation's growing healthcare crisis.
"This is a complex issue," said Kurita, who co-sponsored a bill allowing small businesses to join group health cooperatives. "There's no silver bullet."
Pitts, who sponsored the same state-level legislation that passed last session, agreed that improving access to affordable healthcare is a difficult challenge without an easy solution. "The challenges can't all be fixed at the legislative level, but they can be improved," he said.
Mullins said hospitals are under tremendous pressure from all sides. A hospital is legally bound to treat every patient who arrives at its emergency room, he said, but individuals and insurance companies sometimes don't pay enough to cover the hospital's expenses.
Fertig urged NFIB members to become involved in Divided We Fail and to vote for candidates who will ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare.
NFIB member Ron Smithfield with Smithfield Manufacturing told the group about his positive experiences with health savings accounts, encouraging other members to look at the option.
"My wife and I personally changed to the HSA option, and it changed the way that we thought about healthcare costs," Smithfield said. "My insurance agent says that people are reluctant to join an HSA plan, but most love it when they try it for awhile."
NFIB's Brown urged members to sign the association's Solutions Start Here petition, which asks the next president and Congress to provide healthcare solutions based on the unique needs of small business owners, their employees and their families.
Healthcare crisis is predictedSign the Solutions Start Here petitionSign the Divided We Fail petition
