HAMMOND | When Christopher Pupillo's wife was scheduled for major surgery today, the couple's upfront expenses totaled $10,000 for the operation, Pupillo said Thursday.
But without their private health insurance plan, the costs would top $30,000, the Valparaiso businessman said, a crippling blow to families unable to afford a $1,000-per-month policy. His concern for those less fortunate, Pupillo said, led him to join more than 50 other advocates for industry reform at a noontime rally outside the downtown offices of U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh. The group urged Bayh, D-Ind., to support a proposed public health insurance option.
The rally was one of six in Indiana on Thursday, said Hammond resident David Lambeth, and among 200 nationwide sponsored by the progressive activist group MoveOn.org.
"A real public health insurance option is the heart of true health care reform and the best way to lower health care costs," Lambeth said.
To the right of the reformers, separated by two lanes of Douglas Street and with civility maintained by a contingent of U.S. marshals, stood a dozen anti-change protesters who spoke against what they called "socialized medicine."
"Why should we pay for health care for those who didn't work for it?" Frank Bauer said. "Illegals and single mothers with men at home who won't get a job."
Though the Cedar Lake retiree said he accepts Social Security and Medicare benefits, it's not the same "because we didn't ask for it -- we were forced to participate," Bauer said.
Bauer said he learned of the Thursday protest from Northwest Indiana Patriots, a group founded earlier this year in Valparaiso as the Porter County Tea Party.
Bayh still is evaluating the proposal, said David Rozmanich, the senator's state director.
"Our current health care system must be improved," Bayh said in a prepared statement. "The status quo is unacceptable, but that doesn't mean we should just do anything -- we must do the right thing.
"I will be looking for a fiscally responsible solution that does not increase the federal deficit, or grow our debt, or raise taxes in ways that will cost jobs or hurt our national economy," Bayh said.
Neither side seemed surprised at a 12:30 p.m. announcement from Washington, D.C., that no votes would be taken on any health care reform measure until the Congress returns from its August recess.
"I typically don't get involved in these things," Pupillo said, "but a public option would increase competition, give people a choice and put pressure on the insurance industry to contain costs.
"Also, I wanted to stand up against the far right, who've poisoned the health care debate with corporate misinformation presented as facts."
