Western Pennsylvania residents, like many Americans, are concerned about their health care coverage options.
John Crawford of West Pittsburgh says, "If you have a pre-existing condition, how you can't get health care because you know you're already sick, and that's the bad thing about it. If you're already sick, you need the help the most."
Millions of people are dealing with the cost of prescription drugs.
Dave Aitken of Hookstown says, "We have people cutting down on their diabetic medicine or psychiatric medicine. These people are really in a bind and this is what we really have to do. We don't have to turn to socialism, but we do have to find some middle ground to take care of everybody."
Pennsylvania Congressman Jason Altmire heard the people's health care concerns at a meeting in New Castle.
Altmire is also talking about President Obama's Administration's latest plans to make health care more affordable. Congressman Altmire says, "They're dissatisfied with the cost increases and the out of pocket costs, so they're going to be happy with health care reform because, by bringing health care reform to those who can't afford it now, that's going to have the indirect effect on them, keeping the costs down system wide."
"Roughly 47 million Americans are currently uninsured. President Obama's plan would offer middle class workers and their families the option of enrolling in a public plan, along with private insurance, through a new kind of purchasing pool."
Obama's proposed plan focuses on four key aspects including employers, insurers, pharmaceutical reforms and mostly, patients.
Altmire says, "It's not going to be forced on anybody. It's not going to change the decisions anyone who doesn't participate makes, but it will give one more health care option to those who can't afford it now."
