We believe: Health insurance must become affordable

Hoosiers spend more every year on health insurance. And, as detailed this week in a study by Families USA, those dollars buy less each year.

Health premiums rose 7.3 times faster than earnings in Indiana from 2000 to 2007, according the nonprofit group that seeks better health care for Americans.

More surprisingly, annual premiums for employer-provided heatlh care plans rose from $6,628 to $12,153 over that seven-year period. That’s an 83.4 percent increase, compared to the median income increase of 11.4 percent.

Increases are passed to the worker. Individuals are finding it tougher to go to doctors on a routine basis. Parents are being finding it costly to keep their children healthy. And that’s just for those employees with health care coverage.

Reform is necessary. Even if Congress offers a tax credit, there is no protection to hold insurers accountable. Hoosiers need guarantees that require insurers to sell coverage to those who apply.

Besides the startling figures above, there are 722,000 uninsured Hoosiers.

In our area, we are fortunate to have Madison County Community Health Centers. Located in Anderson and Elwood, the centers offer dental services, behavioral management and prenatal care, among other crucial programs.

The centers operate with support, in part, of an Indiana Tobacco Grant and loans from local banks. The Anderson center operates in a building donated by the city.

By 2009, the centers expect to have 60,000 patient visits a year.

Earlier this year, the centers received a $1.75 million grant from the Indiana State Department of Health toward expanding its two facilities and doubling the number of patients it serves.

The group, which recorded 18,000 visits last year from low-income patients, hopes to serve 50,000 after expanding facilities.

The group expects to receive a similar grant next year, bringing $3.5 million toward a $4.5 million to $6.5 million project to expand facilities.

The centers are just one important element in providing affordable health insurance for Hoosiers.

Due to our currently fragile economy, the number of children going to Medicaid and Children Health Insurance Programs because their families lost job health coverage is growing.