Bloomington Residents Voice Health Care Concerns at Listening Session
BLOOMINGTON, IN – Frustration over rising medical costs and access to affordable care were central themes at a health care reform listening session held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bloomington Tuesday evening. The event, part of a series across the state, drew residents eager to share their experiences and advocate for changes to the U.S. health care system.
Attendees discussed a range of potential reforms, including single-payer health care, affordable medication access, a unified patient record system, and increased support for medical education. The sessions are intended to inform potential legislative action, though organizers acknowledged the challenges of achieving reform in Congress. The growing financial burden of healthcare is impacting individuals and families nationwide, prompting renewed calls for systemic change as insurance premiums rise and deductibles remain high.
michelle Purkes, a Bloomington resident currently unemployed, shared her struggle to afford care even with COBRA insurance. “I pay $600 a month for my premium, and my deductible is $4,000,” Purkes said, adding she has $1,500 in outstanding medical bills related to a chronic condition and “doesn’t see a path toward retirement in the U.S.” She was forced to use her retirement funds to cover treatment costs despite being insured.
Julie Prandi, chair of the listening session and a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, emphasized the importance of continued advocacy. “We just have to get organized,” Prandi stated. “If we work towards it, we can do it…if you just sort of throw up your hands and say, ‘Oh, it’s never going to happen,’ then of course by definition you haven’t tried.”
State Representative Matt Shively, who facilitated the discussion, echoed the sentiment that achieving meaningful health care reform will require sustained effort.”Imagining the health care system that we want, I think a lot of people in this listening session tonight would agree that guaranteed health care for all residents of the US should be a human right,” Shively said.
The group will consider building a campaign around proposed bills based on the outcomes of listening sessions held throughout the state. The next steps remain uncertain,but participants expressed a determination to push for a more equitable and accessible health care system.
