Shawnee County leads region in health care
9:27 p.m. Thursday, October 9, 2008
In downtown Topeka, you'd be hard pressed to find someone without health care.
Like most of the others walking around the streets of the Capital City, Vivian Liu gets her health care coverage through her job with the state of Kansas.
Liu is not alone in her coverage benefits.
According to new figures from the Census Bureau, less than 12 percent of people under the age of 65 in Shawnee County don't have health care.
That's nearly 5 percentage points below the national average.
As a state, Kansas ranks below the national average again, with less than 13 percent of Kansans being uninsured.
"It's provided through our company and we have it set up through the company that way," said Michelle Roach.
Health care has the presidential candidates talking, but a new Gallup poll found 2 out of 5 voters say they don't know or don't see a difference in the candidates health care plans. Some don't even care.
"We just had a meeting yesterday and costs seemed to hold pretty steady," Harper said. "We're good for another year anyway."
Nic Dawson said he has health care through Blue Cross, Blue Shield and feels secure paying for health care through his job.
"I have a well paying job," Dawson said. "I think I'm okay."
Liu said the fragile nature of the economy has only made her more concerned about trips to the doctor's office.
"I'm concerned with the current economic situation," Liu said. "I'm afraid the coverage is not gonna be as good as it used to be or they're gonna raise the premium."
Where the Candidates Stand
* Wants to use competition to improve the quality of health insurance and reduce the cost.
* Plans to give a direct refundable tax credit of $2,500 for individuals and $5000 for families to offset the cost of insurance.
* Will work with states to establish a Guaranteed Access Plan for those who have been denied coverage.
Learn more about John McCain's health care plan.
* Plans to give people without health insurance a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.
* Will require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions
* Wants to reform the insurance market to increase competition and reduce the cost.
Learn more about Barack Obama's health care plan.
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