The following is text from brief remarks I made at a MoveOn.org Health Care Vigil in Salem, OR on Sept. 2, 2009. You can also view photos I took at the event at this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022590&id=1242518388&l=f627aa00d9

My name is Don Hudgins.  I am an artist and formerly employed as a nonprofit Executive Director in Arts Education.  In 2005, I was living in Seattle, working as an independent contractor.  I had insurance under a co-op known as Group Health.  I could only afford a high deductible plan which I had “just in case”.  My just in case came one Sunday morning.  I was in my bathroom about to adjust the time on my cell phone for Standard Daylight time.  The only way I can describe what happened next is that the right ½ of the world went away.

I didn’t know it at the time, but I was hit with what I later learned was a Trans Ischemic Attack.  In layman’s terms, a stroke.  After laying on the floor for 8 hours, I finally recovered enough to drag myself to bed.  I went to the Dr. the very next day and received treatment for high blood pressure with planned follow-ups.  Had I been able to afford preventative care and had reasonable deductibles, this attack would never have happened.

The very next Sunday, I had another attack.  This time, I was at the dog park.  I was so stricken I couldn’t speak to ask for help.  I somehow dragged myself to my car and limped home.  A friend checked me into the hospital that night.  I was too poor for an ambulance.  While I had a high deductible plan, I can’t complain, I had the best of care with no waiting to speak of.  The people of Virginia Mason Hospital and Group Health both took very good care of me.  Since moving to Oregon for a job two years ago, I was unable to get into any plan other than OMIP due to this pre-existing condition.  Again, I can only afford a plan that has a very high deductible.  Through much testing, at high cost, my Dr. determined I have a leaky heart valve.  There is a procedure which can correct this but it is deemed experimental and not covered.  It would cost me $10,000 on my own.  I imagine this is much what a Public Option would be like.  Just in case.  Not sufficient.  But better than nothing.

Under capitalism it has been said, man exploits man, whereas under communism (ie Socialism), it's the reverse.

A strong economy is possible only when the environment and the workers on which it depends are healthy and strong.  This must include fair and affordable health care for everyone.  Without exception.  Without high deductibles.  Without pre-existing conditions and at a price affordable by everyone.  It is a right.  Not a priviledge.