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I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve had health insurance my whole life and never really needed it—until now. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated being able to go for annual physicals and have my insurance cover the costs minus a co-pay. I also took advantage of preventative care that enabled regular doctor and dental visits for my children, and any labs or x-ray work required. But we were healthy, and the benefit simply offered peace of mind. This summer, however, all that changed. My child needed two tests, a PETscan and a CATscan, that without insurance would have cost us nearly $10,000, and that’s just the beginning.  When you’re facing a health concern, the last thing your family should have to worry about is the cost. Yet, it’s the first medical form you’re required to complete: Who is the party responsible for payment?!

Over the last few weeks, the Boston Globe has published several stories on how more Mass. residents have health insurance since the state made coverage mandatory. Based on a state report, an August 20 article noted that 439,000 of an estimated 600,000 uninsured residents are now enrolled in some plan—although federal payments of $11 billion over the next three years are vital for its continued success.  A later article claimed errors in coverage resulted in hundreds of patients losing insurance erroneously. And yesterday, the Globe reported on a national census regarding average health insurance coverage from 2005-2007. The federal report from the U.S. Census Bureau lists Texas as having the highest uninsured rate at 24.5%, and Massachusetts, at 8.3%, as one of the lowest. Can you imagine the horror of a loved one needing an expensive test, medication, or treatment and having to mortgage your home or go into deep financial debt to pay for it? For nearly one quarter of all Texans that could be their reality. For even one family to face a situation like that is unconscionable. From my new vantage point as someone currently embroiled in a high-stakes ride through our healthcare system, it’s become crystal clear that health insurance, like freedom of speech and public schools, should be an unalienable right.