Connecticut Post: Dodd Discusses Remedies For High Health-Care Costs

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By: Michael P Mayko

The numbers are staggering.

In 2009, an average family of four pays $12,000 a year for health care. That's up from $7,000 in 2000. But the figure is expected to soar to $25,000 in 2016.

In the U.S., 14,000 people lose health-care benefits every day.

And those who receive health benefits from employers can usually choose between only one or two options.

"As a federal employee, I have 23 options," Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., told a gathering of health-care professionals, employers, employees and politicians Friday at Bridgeport Hospital. "It's valuable to have choices."

Competition, he said, also reduces costs.

That's why Dodd said he fully supports health-care reform that includes a public, patient or consumer option.

"Health-care premiums are rising five times as fast as wages," he said. "The country is spending three times as much on health care as any global competitor."

Dodd said a lot of work has to be done on any reform proposal, including making a fair reimbursement program for health-care providers as well as dealing with the growing number of medical malpractice cases and increasing malpractice insurance costs.

"We're not going to get a perfect plan," he said of the proposals now before Congress, vowing to continue the fight for reform. "We're probably going to have to go back and re-do things. But future generations will applaud what we did."

The group heard an emotional plea for reform from Freeda Fretz, a 56-year-old employee of Action for Bridgeport Community Development, a local anti-poverty agency. Every month, she decides if she is going to pay the $300 for the 10 medicines she takes to stay alive or her mounting utility bills.

"We need help," she told the senator.

Kevin Galvin, who owns Connecticut Commercial Maintenance in West Hartford, which does maintenance and repair work for national retailers, said he turned down two long-term contracts because he can't afford to provide health-care benefits.

"I could have doubled my staff in the past week and a half, but because I can't afford health-care benefits I can't attract the people I need," he said.

Galvin used his concerns to help create the 19,000-member Small Business for Health Care Reform advocacy group. He met briefly Thursday with President Barack Obama.

Additionally, Dodd said he is seeking answers on why there is a shortage of swine flu vaccines, particularly in Connecticut.

"It's not a question of not trying," he said even though the concern of an epidemic surfaced last spring.

The senator believes some of the shortage comes from other nations that offered to sell the vaccine to the U.S., but then decided to make it available to their own citizens first.

Prior to the meeting, Dodd toured Bridgeport Hospital with Robert Trefry, its president and chief executive officer.

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