As I have grown up, one of my pivotal “adulting” milestones was scheduling my own physical. Although it seems insignificant in hindsight, calling up a new doctor’s office and navigating the confusing world of health insurance was a daunting task to my young adult self. I remember being asked a bunch of questions with foreign acronyms, leaving me frustrated and overwhelmed. Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to have a support system of people to guide me through this process, and my insurance was accepted, allowing me to get the care I needed.
Unfortunately, many people do not have this same access to healthcare, especially when it comes to services such as mental health care. In the United States, around 14 million people owe over $1,000 in medical debt, and around 3 million people owe over $10,000 of medical debt. In total, people in the U.S. owe a staggering $220 billion in medical debt. As someone who is beginning to take more ownership of my own healthcare journey, this is an unfathomable burden to have to carry for simply trying to get by and survive. People should not have to worry about finances while also grappling with the stress associated with medical complications.
The good news is that Suzanne Ness understands these concerns and has taken innovative steps to expand healthcare access in Illinois. This past session alone, Suzanne voted to send $10 million dollars towards eliminating $1 billion dollars in medical debt in the budget. Suzanne believes that no one should have to start a go-fund me to pay for their medical care, and she is fighting for citizens all over Illinois to make that belief a reality. Voting to eliminate medical debt in our state is one way that Suzanne works to alleviate financial burdens for Illinoisains so more people can access medical care without worrying about crippling debt.
Beyond working to eliminate medical debt, Suzanne also co-sponsored HB5395, the Healthcare Protection Act (HPA). This Act accomplishes several things, including the transparency to prior authorization for in-patient adult and children’s mental health care in Illinois, ending step therapy, and setting key standards for appointment time availability and the number of in-network doctors, ensuring that patients can locate care in their area and have a transparent view of their in-network providers. As a young person starting to manage my own healthcare, this transparency and mental health support is a game changer for me, as it makes it easier for me to locate providers that work with my insurance and are located in my area.
Suzanne has and will continue to work to expand healthcare access for Illinoisans in and outside of District 66. She has our back, and I am proud to stand with a leader who makes receiving equal, fair, and affordable treatment a top-priority. Finances and a lack of transparency should not stand in the way of people receiving treatment. Suzanne unequivocally shares this belief and is a staunch advocate for Illinoisans so that everyone can live a thriving life. If you want to see your eligibility for this medical debt relief, do not hesitate to email us at vote4suzanneness@gmail.com. We are here for you!