President Obama's discussion on health care reform was a hot topic in Carbon County.
We talked to people who don't have insurance, to a doctor, and to a small-business person. One thing that everybody agreed on is that some reform is needed.
"I have three teeth that need to be ripped out but there's no way I can do it, $365 dollars," said Robert Christman of Lehighton.
Robert Christman of Lehighton has lived without health insurance for sixteen years. He works part-time as a gas station cashier. It is no surprise he wants health care reform.
"I think part-time, full-time there should be some type of insurance coverage for anybody that's working for another company."
Julia Hedrick works part-time at a pizza shop in Palmerton. She doesn't have the money for health insurance.
"I'm trying so hard to support myself and I can't afford health care because it's $300 dollars a month," said Hedrick.
Hedrick's boss said she can't afford to offer insurance to her six employees.
"It's not cheap.Tthe insurance is very expensive," said Gulnar Rasim, owner of Palmerton Pizza. "I don't think I will be able to. I'll end up working more ."
At his practice in Jim Thorpe, Dr. John Manzella likes the idea of universal health care. But he says there are tradeoffs.
"I think that most Americans including physicians are most concerned about are we are going to be taking away the people's options, and are they going to be handcuffing the physicians on how they care for the patients."
All but one of the people we interviewed told us they don't believe health care reform is going to happen anytime soon.
We talked to people who don't have insurance, to a doctor, and to a small-business person. One thing that everybody agreed on is that some reform is needed.
"I have three teeth that need to be ripped out but there's no way I can do it, $365 dollars," said Robert Christman of Lehighton.
Robert Christman of Lehighton has lived without health insurance for sixteen years. He works part-time as a gas station cashier. It is no surprise he wants health care reform.
"I think part-time, full-time there should be some type of insurance coverage for anybody that's working for another company."
Julia Hedrick works part-time at a pizza shop in Palmerton. She doesn't have the money for health insurance.
"I'm trying so hard to support myself and I can't afford health care because it's $300 dollars a month," said Hedrick.
Hedrick's boss said she can't afford to offer insurance to her six employees.
"It's not cheap.Tthe insurance is very expensive," said Gulnar Rasim, owner of Palmerton Pizza. "I don't think I will be able to. I'll end up working more ."
At his practice in Jim Thorpe, Dr. John Manzella likes the idea of universal health care. But he says there are tradeoffs.
"I think that most Americans including physicians are most concerned about are we are going to be taking away the people's options, and are they going to be handcuffing the physicians on how they care for the patients."
All but one of the people we interviewed told us they don't believe health care reform is going to happen anytime soon.
