The Retort

Health care reform right for students

March 26th, 2010 by U.S. Senator Jon Tester For The Retort

In mid-March, I stood on the floor of the Senate and shared some startling news from home.

Hardworking folks and families across Montana were being slammed with health insurance rate hikes of 30 to 80 percent.

When I’m asked why I voted to reform our health insurance system, my answer is easy. It’s because of the families, small businesses, and farmers and ranchers in Montana who were going bankrupt under a broken health insurance system.

I know when things change, folks get nervous. And the debate over health care has brought out all kinds of rumors and misinformation. It’s unacceptable that some folks are spreading rumors about what this bill means for Montana’s young folks. So let’s set the record straight.

The reform bill that I supported and the President signed into law is right for Montanans.

The law is tough on insurance companies, it cuts our deficit, strengthens Medicare, and it gives all Montanans access to quality, affordable care.

And it’s good news for students and young Montanans.

Most importantly, under the new law, you can be covered under your parents’ or guardians’ insurance up to age 26. So you’ll be covered as you finish school or look for work. And God forbid you get sick and need to get treatment while in school—you’ll be able to keep your coverage.

If you plan to work for a small business—or start your own—you’ll have access to affordable coverage through new exchange markets. And that’s coverage you can take with you if you decide to change jobs.

And for those who’ve been denied coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition, insurance companies will now be prevented from denying you coverage.

Our young folks in Montana represent the future of our great state. It only makes sense to invest in their health and financial security. Health care reform does just that.

I get my best ideas from Montanans. And when it comes to reforming health insurance, the Montanans I heard from wanted to be sure that rural America didn’t get the short end of the stick. That’s why I included language in the bill to make sure rural and frontier communities will get their fair share when it comes to investments in health education and training.

I am one of the few U.S. Senators who has had to go without health insurance. After our daughter was born 30 years ago, Sharla and I had to cut out health insurance to make ends meet. For a few years, we had to rely on hope and prayer.

Sadly, our experience isn’t all that rare in Montana.

For decades now, folks in our state had their coverage dropped when they got sick, or were denied coverage all together because of some preexisting medical condition.

In some cases, after facing devastating medical bills, Montanans were forced to sell their family farms and ranches. Small businesses couldn’t insure their employees. Medicare was headed for bankruptcy.

And hardworking folks had to get by on nothing more than hope and prayer, one illness or accident away from losing everything. Not because of anything they did wrong. But just because of the runaway cost of health care.

After decades of sliding backwards, we’ve finally changed direction. We’re now moving forward to fix our broken health insurance system.

Now, we start holding insurance companies accountable. We start cutting our deficits. We shore up Medicare. And we give all Montanans access to quality, affordable care.

As we move forward, I’ll keep working hard to make sure this insurance reform is implemented responsibly and effectively. And I’ll keep making sure rural and frontier America has a voice in the debate.

As always, I’m interested in your feedback.

So be well, and keep in touch.

U.S. Senator Jon Tester is a third generation farmer from Big Sandy.