August 13th, 2009

Reports the Tribune-Review:

Bob Mason began advocating for changes in the nation’s health care system about seven years ago.

As a social worker, he felt it was his duty to fight for social justice issues such as health care reform.

But in the last few years, Mason, 60, and his wife, Theresa, 57, also a social worker, found themselves in the same boat as their clients who can’t afford insurance copays or have limited office visits.

They nearly went bankrupt when Theresa Mason was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Bob Mason dropped his health coverage a year ago after his premiums increased 40 percent. His wife’s policy may be next.

“Over the last seven years, I’ve been going from advocating for others to also advocating for myself,” said Mason of Trafford, who is a founding member of Pennsylvania United for Single-payer Healthcare and Healthcare 4 All Pa.

The organizations held a small rally and news conference Wednesday morning in front of the Westmoreland County Courthouse, urging passage of The Family and Business Healthcare Security Act, which would create a single-payer health insurance fund in Pennsylvania.

Mason said Westmoreland County’s municipalities and school districts would save nearly $43 million a year on health care costs for their employees under a single-payer system.

The Pennsylvania bill, which has been introduced in both the Senate and House of Representatives, would create a health insurance trust managed by a single public agency that would provide health care for all residents.

Read more at the Tribune-Review.