Tom White speaks at health care discussion series

A college student has to start going to school part time to support his family but ends up losing his health insurance.

Another is diagnosed with epilepsy but is forced to stay in school to keep her insurance.

And another gets sick and starts accumulating absences, becoming essentially "one case of mono away from losing health insurance."

Stories like this are the motivation that is driving state Sen. Tom White of Omaha to change health care. He described his efforts for health care reform at a discussion Tuesday at the Nebraska Union.

The discussion, sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Young Democrats, is the first event for the organization's "Health Care Month" lecture series. The group will bring different speakers to campus to talk about health care and health care reform through October and the first weeks of November.

"Health care is a huge issue, and it's incredibly complicated," said Hannah Ledford, UNL Young Democrats member and a senior arts and sciences major. "We wanted to get our questions answered."

White, who announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress Sept. 9, spoke about health care reform issues on both the local and national level.

"The last time we went about (health care reform), you guys were about to be born," White said. "It's way overdue."

White was a supporter of LB551, which the Nebraska Legislature passed last spring. The bill changed the maximum age that dependents can stay on a parent's health care plan — now everyone up to the age of 30 can stay covered under a guardian's plan, even if they aren't in school. Previously, the dependent had to be under 24 years old and a full-time student. The new law will take effect Jan. 1.

"(The law) is important in the recession," White said. "It gives leeway to stay on the plan. It's not perfect, but it's an improvement."

One question asked at the discussion was whether any effort had been made to decrease the cost of going to medical school. White said that no efforts were being made in terms of dropping tuition. However, the Obama administration is working on decreasing the interest on student loans.

There were aspects of public option proposals White said he could support and other aspects he said he couldn't support in the health care debate. When he fought for civil rights, White said, he saw the government abuse power, denying government services to some people based on their skin color.

The public needs to have a choice, a private option if the government abuses power. But, he said, private businesses also abuse power with insurance companies. He wants to see an equitable system in the United States.

"If you get sick, it won't send you to bankruptcy," White said.

When asked whether or not there was any way to raise the pay for primary caregivers, White said that there were lots of ways to possibly save money. He gave the example of Obama's proposed computerization of all medical records, which would decrease the occurrence of "hugely expensive" physician malpractice.

White was also asked about bipartisanship and whether the parties can work together to move forward.

"(When the candidates get to Washington,) they are scarred, and they're pissed off," White said. "It makes it extremely difficult to agree on matters. It may be one of the most long-term challenges your generation faces."

After the discussion, White said college students should think about health care not only because it is one-sixth of the economy, but also because it will affect college students like the girl with epilepsy or the boy struggling to support his family.

"Unfortunately," White said, "it's a raw sore for many people."

paigecornwell@dailynebraskan.com