HB 2362 means equal access to care
In Oregon, we believe that everyone should be able to get the care they need. Yet the price of care is increasingly unaffordable and out of reach for many families in our state.
For years, we’ve heard from Oregonians who have insurance yet cannot afford to use their benefits to access care. This is not surprising considering the amount we pay for healthcare in Oregon is among the highest in the nation and has outpaced wages at a disturbing rate.
Michelle Hitchcock, a third-generation Providence hospital worker who lives with multiple sclerosis, shared heartbreaking testimony at a recent legislative hearing. Her biggest fear came true when she needed an MRI and couldn’t afford the unexpected $800 bill. Michelle was ultimately taken to collections by her own employer, her financial future put in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, Michelle is not alone.
Every day, Oregon families are faced with the impossible decision between getting the healthcare they need or paying rent. Now with COVID-19, more families are experiencing loss of income along with rising healthcare premiums, deductibles and copays. The impact is more acute for families who are Black, Indigenous and people of color, whose health and economic stability have been disproportionately disrupted by the pandemic.
By Rep. Andrea Salinas and Sen. Deb Patterson
Photo Credits: Anthony Becerra / Gia Goodrich
March 5, 2021 at 4:11pm