Dennis Shulman for U.S. Congress: Sensible Leadership for New Jersey’s 5th District

October 6th, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. | When 63-year-old Peter Guerin lost his job, his health insurance also disappeared.

The Easton resident purchased a substitute insurance plan, but he called it inadequate; he paid for a recent medical checkup and eye exam out of his own pocket.

As he shops for better coverage, Guerin is finding plans with deductibles as high as $5,000 and plans that pay just 60 percent of bills.

“We have to get it, and that’s it,” said Guerin.

The candidates who want to represent Warren County in Congress — Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett and Democratic challenger Dennis Shulman — said the federal government should help make health care more affordable.

“The federal government certainly has a place and a role to play in as much as everyone would like to see an improvement of and access to affordable health care,” Garrett said.

For example, Garrett wants small businesses to be able to join together, pool their risk and buy health insurance for their employees at a reduced cost. Making insurance more affordable will increase the number of insured people, he said.

In a discussion about health care, Garrett emphasized the country’s duty to take care of veterans’ medical needs. If the United States does not take care of its veterans, he said, no one will volunteer for military service.

Garrett wants to expand veterans’ clinics in more communities, so care is more convenient.
Also, he wants veterans who see private doctors to be able to have their prescriptions filled by the Veterans Health Administration.

Shulman emphasized the need to keep Medicare secure, calling the program a “sacred covenant” between the government and seniors.

“With the kinds of pressures that are on elderly people when it comes to pensions, if health care is not something that is secure, then we have even worse problems,” Shulman said. “I would be ashamed of a country that would compromise health care benefits for elderly people.”

Shulman touted his firsthand experience in the medical field: He is a psychologist, and his wife is an obstetrician/gynecologist.

“People tell me they are terrified of losing their job because with it goes their health care benefits, and that really makes people extremely uncomfortable and unhappy and nervous about the future,” Shulman said.
“Something has to give, and it seems to me there are number of good programs (solutions) out there.”

Jessica Coomes is Washington, D.C., correspondent for The Express-Times. She can be reached at 202-383-7848 or by e-mail at jessica.coomes@newhouse.com.

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