Rep. Corrine Brown: “I represent the 3rd District of Florida. And, senior citizens in my district which ranges from Jacksonville to Orlando…”

“I represent the 3rd District of Florida. And, senior citizens in my district which ranges from Jacksonville to Orlando have suffered at the hands of HMO providers day-after-day. They are urged to sign up for health coverage plans, and these HMOs only give them cheap gifts and inadequate health coverage. Because I have hosted numerous town hall meetings on health care for senior citizens, I have been able to hear their stories and provide assistance when their insurance providers have failed to deliver. An 81-year-old man, who after his HMO was sold had to replace his regular hypertension drug with a lower-cost one. Within days his blood pressure skyrocketed. He switched to an HMO that covered his drug, but then the new plan changed its coverage too. Unable to pay for the drug, he went on TV as a cry for help and a local physician with compassion gave him the medication for free. Health care is such a crucial part of our lives, I believe every effort should be made to protect senior citizens and the working poor. It is our responsibility to protect and pass legislation that will protect the rights of our constituents. More importantly, we are charged with ensuring that our nation has access to quality health care at an affordable cost. There is nothing more heart wrenching, than talking with someone who desperately needs medical care and their insurance company will not cover the life-saving medical treatment or reimburse patients for much needed medicine.”