Healthcare reform has brought about plenty of disagreements, but one thing most people agree on is that healthcare is expensive - and getting more expense each year. In the past 10 years, health care costs increased 120 percent, compared to general inflation at 29 percent. In fact, family coverage in Florida is among the most costly in the nation, topping $12,000 a year.

Some are satisfied with their health insurance coverage and their providers; whereas others find the high deductibles, complex exclusions and fractured services to be a nightmare.

Today, more families are going without insurance simply because they can’t afford it. Did you know medical costs cause 80 percent of bankruptcies? And three-quarters of those bankrupt families had health insurance. Central Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured working families in the nation, partly because small businesses find it hard to maintain affordable health insurance for employees.

With so many uninsured, or underinsured, it puts a huge strain on our healthcare system and raises the cost for those with insurance. The uninsured and underinsured end up with high cost care in the emergency department or hospitalized for conditions that could have been avoided with good outpatient care. The uninsured receive less preventive care, are diagnosed when their disease is more advanced, and once diagnosed, die at higher rates than those with insurance. The American Cancer Society estimates an uninsured person without insurance dies 1.6 times sooner than someone with insurance.

Opponents of healthcare reform say our system is fine. They are concerned about the government taking a larger role in its citizen’s private affairs, the most sensitive of which is our health record. But others point to the low ranking of our country - 40 among nations worldwide - for the average overall health of the people.

Where the big disagreements exist is on how to solve this problem. What’s currently going through Congress is health insurance reform, focused mostly on paying for healthcare for those who can buy insurance, what that insurance covers and how much it will pay. Healthcare reform however would look at the whole system, including quality, cost of care and healthier lifestyles.

Opponents of the current reform proposals say that health insurance is not the problem. Others are concerned that the cost for extending health insurance to the 47 million on insured would bankrupt our already shaky economy. Business owners worry about added costs sinking their bottom lines into the red. Others argue we are already paying for it, but we are already paying for avoidable high cost hospital care for the uninsured. They say insurance reform that does not control the skyrocketing costs may spell financial disaster.

Another concern is that our current healthcare system is not ready for such a broad expansion of coverage. If we increase access, will we have enough doctors, nurses and therapists to help everyone that needs them?

The real debate, however, is on how we will design our healthcare system to meet the needs of the nation while helping businesses grow and strengthening our economy. Distractions have plagued the issue this year. Still, one thing is for sure: while the issues continue to be batted around in Washington, Tallahassee and here in Orlando, people will keep getting sick and someone will end up having to foot the bill.

The League of Women Voters believes that “quality, affordable healthcare should be available to all U.S. residents.” The League believes that all Americans should have access to a basic level of care that includes the prevention, health promotion and education, primary care, acute care, long-term care and mental healthcare. The League of Women Voters supports a public option for health insurance.

Article by Nancy Rudner Lugo