Consumer Reports Tour Exposes Healthcare Pitfalls

YONKERS, N.Y. — Consumer Reports Health is hitting the road this summer on the Cover America Tour to listen to Americans talk about their healthcare experiences. The tour was launched this week from the New York headquarters of Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports Health, and will travel across the country by RV the next four months.

As the Cover America Tour travels from coast to coast, its crew will post videos of people talking about the challenges they’ve experienced with health coverage and will blog about what they’re hearing. 

There is plenty of evidence that our healthcare system is broken, said Meg Bohne, campaign organizer for Consumers Union. “But it’s important to remember that there are real lives and families behind all the statistics and data that point to the need for reform. The Cover America Tour aims to put a face on the problems Americans are experiencing and to make sure their voices are heard as the debate over healthcare reform heats up.”

Consumers Union has collected thousands of stories from people all over the United States and the tour will be visiting with many of them to learn more about their experiences. During the tour, Consumers Union will team up with community leaders to organize public events where people can share their experiences and call for change.

A map showing the tour route and schedule of events is available online. The Web site already features a number of videotaped stories, including:

>>Carol (Sacramento, Calif.), a cancer survivor who has had difficulty getting coverage because of her previous illness.

>>Rachel (Liberty Hill, Texas), a small business person who has had a tough time affording insurance for her family.

>>Bill (Austin, Texas), who was charged for emergency room care — even though the hospital was in his insurer’s network — because the doctor who treated him was not.

With healthcare costs rising, Americans are feeling anxious about their ability to pay their medical bills. A 2007 Consumer Reports survey found that 65 percent of Americans fear losing their job-related health coverage and 68 percent worry about going bankrupt by medical bills that follow a serious illness or accident.

Thirty-five percent of those responding to the survey said that in the last year they skipped or postponed medical care to control expenses.

Furthermore, Consumers Reports found that 24 percent of Americans with insurance have coverage that barely covers their medical needs and leaves them unprepared for major medical expenses.

“No family should go broke trying to pay for healthcare,” said Bohne. “Unfortunately, our research makes clear that many Americans are struggling to pay their medical bills and are just one major illness away from bankruptcy.”

Source: Consumers Union