15 months ago
BANGOR (NEWS CENTER) -- People from across northern Maine gathered in Bangor Saturday to rally for universal healthcare.
The rally was organized by Health Care for America Now, a national organization pushing for health care reform in 2009.
Several people in the area shared stories about how they couldn't afford health insurance. Donovan Todd, a self employed carpenter, said he cancelled his health insurance two years ago because he couldn't afford it.
"I'm scared to death I could lose everything I've ever worked for. One illness could wipe us out," he said.
Doctors also spoke about the challenges of trying to treat patients who didn't have adequate health insurance.
"Every day in my office I have people who are choosing not to take their medicines, not to get a test done that's recommended, not to follow through on a preventative health recommendation because they aren't insured," said Dr. Elizabeth Weiss, a Bangor physician.
"It's heart wrenching. Now patients often won't tell you that they can't afford you. They'll say 'yes, doctor' and then you see them a week later in the hospital or a month later in the hospital and they haven't been able to take their medicine," said Dr. Benjamin Schaefer, a Bangor cardiologist.
Organizers say they hope rallies can spark discussion and motivate people to speak to their congressional leaders about these issues.
"Health care should be a basic human right. It should not be a privilege and we're the only industrialized country, the only developed country where it is a privilege," said Troy Haines.
