WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsBenefit planned to help Buffalo County couple with medical bills
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As the debate over health care reform wages on in Washington D.C., local families consider how reform would impact them.
Peter and Sherri Speerstra were in a crash in January of 2007.
"I had a four wheel drive truck and I tried to avoid him by turning and driving into a field, but we got hit on the leftside right behind me," says Peter Speerstra, who lives in Buffalo County.
Since the crash, Peter has had hip and back pain. Three surgeries to correct problems have netted few results. To make things worse, in the past year doctors discovered tumors on Peter's bladder. Because of that he's had to have two more surgeries.
"The biggest thing is the deductible and co-insurance that we've had to meet at the end of the year for the last four years," says Speerstra. "It runs about $5,000 out of pocket every year, plus 70 to 80 mile round trips to Eau Claire to see doctors."
On top of that, Peter pays $200 to $300 a month in prescription costs. He hasn't been able to work since the crash because of his injuries, fortunately he's covered by a group plan through Sherri's employer. Without that insurance that amount would be much higher.
"At the end of June the bills had exceed $50,000 and that's not counting the hernia surgery or the two bladder surgeries or any of the other treatments that I've had this year," says Speerstra. "I'm expecting the total bills for this year to be exceed $100,000."
When it comes to health care reform though, Peter, a former insurance salesman, is torn.
"It would be great for everyone to have health insurance and have health care, this country has got the doctors and the facilities and the technology to take care of everyone," says Speerstra.
But he also says...
"We see what's going on on with social security and there's so much fraud in Medicare and if there was a government run health care program I don't feel it would be advantagous for the people in our country," says Speerstra.
A benefit is being held to help offset costs for the Speerstra's. It's Saturday, October 17th at Central Lutheran Church in Mondovi. It runs from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be food and a live auction.
The most recent version of reform in the senate does not include a public option. Lawmakers hope to have a bill ready for the president's signature by Christmas.
