UAW members lobbying to keep our kids covered

UAW Local 469 members with Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., discussed methods to maintain insurance for dependant children.

In one of the workshops Steve Lipski attended at the UAW National Community Action Program (CAP) Conference, he learned that when talking to legislators it helps to share a personal story.

When he and fellow members of UAW Local 469 visited Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., on Capitol Hill, that’s exactly what he did.

He told Moore about his daughter, Nicole, and her health care scare.

And on Jan. 20, when Moore stood on the U.S. House floor to speak against repealing the nation’s new health care plan, she made her point with a story about the Lipski family.

“Of course all of us have heard stories from our district about how the repeal of this law will have an impact on women,” Moore said as she addressed members of the House.

“I heard such a story just yesterday,” added Moore. “Meet Nicole Lipski. She is 25 years old, working part time and going to school part time. Because of the health care reform law, she was able to remain on her dad’s insurance. And lucky for her because just last week, she had an infected pancreas and had to have her gall bladder removed in an emergency surgery which cost $13,000. That fortunately was covered by her parent’s insurance.”

In just a few minutes, Moore told how health care changes that now allow dependent children to stay on their parent’s family policy up to age 26 turned out to be a game changer and possibly a life saver.

President Barack Obama signed the nation’s comprehensive health care overhaul legislation into law March 23. Before that, insurers generally kicked dependent children off their parent’s health insurance at age 18.

Now, dependent children will be able to stay on their parent’s family policy up to age 26.

That one component of the law indeed turned out to be very lucky for Nicole, said her dad, Steve.

“I felt comfortable talking about it, and I am glad that I did,” Lipski said. “I am glad that we had workshops that helped us to understand why sharing a person’s story is important when you are talking to a legislator or someone who can effect change.

“Health care reform is such a no-brainer,” he added. “Everyone I know has a story.”

Nicole, who is studying to become a registered nurse, is fine now. But Steve Lipski and his wife, Deborah, are amazed as the bills keep coming.

“We just got another bill for $18,000. Without Obama’s health care reform, my daughter would have been looking at a bill for around $26,000,” he said. “It makes a difference that our insurance took care of it and my daughter won’t have to worry about it.”

“I think this change in health care makes a wonderful difference for families who have children who can further their education or their careers and not worry about what happens if they get sick,” said UAW Local 469 President Grace Maizonet.

“It would be a step backward if we would even consider repealing this health care law,” she added. “People should not have to go bankrupt or lose everything they have because of illness. I believe quality, affordable health care is a right, and as a citizen of this country, it should be guaranteed to all.”

“Yes, there are statistics and hypotheticals, but it all comes down to the difference this makes for real people, real families,” said UAW Region 4 Director Ron McInroy. “You can’t put a price on knowing that as a parent you can give your children the health care protection they might need just a little bit longer.”

Sandra Davis