State Cuts Could Leave Thousands In the Valley Without Health Insurance

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Story Published: Feb 2, 2010 at 7:59 PM PDT

By Peter Bukowski

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YAKIMA -- Kathleen Sattler relies on the Basic Health Program. Now, proposed budget cuts have her coverage in jeopardy.

"How much can you cut costs to where you are hurting young families?" Sattler wonders. "Deep cuts to this program (are) not the answer. It's not the answer."

But the problem is one many in the valley are now facing. Many are having to choose between paying rent or buying food, and paying for their medical bills.

"A lot of our patients are saying 'I'm not going to be able to come to you if I lose my insurance. I can't afford a visit to the doctor. I'm not sure I can afford my medications," Dr. Carl Olden explains.

That group could grow by more than 8,000 in the Yakima Valley alone if Basic Health is cut. That's more than three times the state average for a county. Based on those numbers, that could mean an extra $200 per person on average, to cover the uninsured. This would be tacked on to the cost of procedures, which your insurance often bills you for a percentage of.

It's going to be a very bad economic situation for the health care providers. Those health care providers are going to try and pass those costs along somehow if they can," Says Yakima Memorial Vice President John Vornbrock.

And if health care becomes too expensive for people to see their doctors, it could mean the availability of health care plummets.

"We have fixed costs. If we don't cover those and that's by income coming in the door, then we go out of business and if we're not there, then nobody has care," says Dr. Olden.

It's become too expensive for the state to pay for the uninsured, so they're passing the buck to you, like it or not.

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