Faith in the public arena: healthcare issues

Healthcare is a serious issue in this year’s election campaigns at both state and national levels. There is not a District in which the topic is not addressed. As a Catholic people, how do we respond to what many have termed a healthcare crisis?

Writing in 1993, the American Bishops stated that healthcare in America costs too much and serves too few. It’s fair to say that the same statement still stands! Healthcare costs continue to soar at a rate that is disproportionate to that of the rest of the economy and our number of uninsured person continues to climb. Currently, the cost of healthcare constitutes one seventh of our national economy.

At the present time, 42 million Americans are without insurance, including 11 million children under the age of 18. Most adults without coverage work for small and medium sized firms, work part time or are self-employed. The majority live in households with annual incomes of $30,000 or less. If the current trend continues, 20% of all Americans will be uninsured by the year 2005.

In Minnesota, 60,000 children lack health insurance; the total number of uninsured is roughly 400,000 or about 8% of our total population. The MN Care program, providing a sliding scale for insurance coverage to those who qualify, places us in the forefront of adequately providing care for those in need. The percentage of people without insurance here is roughly one half that of the nation as a whole. 400,000 are still too many. One of our primary challenges lies in bringing about a greater awareness of the MN Care programs to eligible persons.

The Federal Government is working against us in providing adequate care to those enrolled in the Medicare and Medicaid Program. Per person payments for medical care in Minnesota are among the lowest in the nation, making it extremely difficult to serve the growing numbers of elderly citizens.

Pharmacy costs are crippling many senior citizens. Oftentimes, they are denied medication, or going without adequate food to pay for prescription medicine.

Catholic Social Teaching offers some principles for us to use as a framework for considering the suggestions and solutions brought forward by candidates for public office.

Special attention must be given to the needs of the poor and vulnerable. Because the common good depends on the health of individuals and families, widely accessible, quality services should be provided at the community level.

Adequate healthcare is to provide compassionate care for the whole person - ministering to physical, psychological and spiritual needs.