Eau Claire (WQOW) -Dozens showed up to voice their concerns about health care at a listening session with Rep. Ron Kind. Many were small business owners who are fighting with the choice to keep their doors open or pay for group health insurance.
The cost of insurance is leaving some small business owners to figure out a way to keep both their livelihood and their health.
Mark Patterson who owns a book store in downtown Eau Claire says, "We have reached the point where soon we will have to decide if we should just close the business and try to find employment with insurance benefits or keep the business open but take on an additional part-time job to subsidize the insurance costs that we currently pay."
A decision Lani Madis, who runs a family-owned business in downtown Eau Claire, has already had to make. She says, "As a small business owner especially in this economic time we had to make the decision that we could not continue to carry that group health."
That choice comes with some serious risks. After they were forced to drop their group health insurance, her daughter was not able to find coverage because of pre-existing condition. She is not alone.
One after another people with pre-existing conditions shared their stories with Rep. Kind hoping he will bring their struggles to Washington.
Some who spoke out tonight do have insurance but they say their deductibles are too high and they can't afford the routine doctors visits.
Local officials also spoke out saying they feel their hands are tied and any decisions that will affect the cost of health care have to come from the state or the federal government.
Congressman Kind says some assistance is on the way. The stimulus bill includes billions in health care provisions.
