Uninsured Child Care Workers Would Not Be Helped By John McCain’s Health Care Plan

ERIE, Pa. – “The Road to American Health Care,” a national bus tour a aimed at mobilizing voters around the need for comprehensive healthcare reform within the first six months of the next administration, rolled into Erie, PA, today to highlight the plight of child care workers who can’t afford health care coverage.

SEIU, the nation’s largest union of health care workers, is sponsoring the bus tour. The tour will travel across the country on its way to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, stopping in communities small and large to highlight real people who are struggling to keep up with rising health care costs. Deborah Roberson, who spoke at today’s event, talked about the strain of being unable to afford health insurance, even though she works from 7a.m. to midnight, 5 days a week, caring for up to 6 children.

“I live in fear of getting sick,” said Deborah, who has diabetes. “I have to stretch my medication. Sometimes I take one diabetes pill instead of the two my doctor prescribed. God forbid I would have to go into the hospital.”

Deborah’s net pay last year was about $14,300, and her out of pocket health care costs were $3,000 – over 20% of her income. Unfortunately, Deborah won’t find any relief with John McCain’s health care plan, which lets insurance companies refuse coverage for people with preexisting conditions, like diabetes, and does nothing to rein in rising costs.

“I need health insurance so that I can stay healthy so that I can take care of myself, my family and these kids,” Deborah said.

The Road to American Health Care, which kicked off yesterday in Cleveland, is part of SEIU’s sweeping campaign to elect a new President and Congress committed to fixing health care - and then make sure those newly elected leaders immediately pass comprehensive legislation that makes quality health care affordable for everyone.