Locals speak out on health care reform

ENGLEWOOD - Even though he doesn't wear a suit often, Nathan Wilkes knew he had to pack one for his latest trip.

"I figure it's a joint session of Congress, I should look pretty respectable," said the father of three.

Wilkes was invited to sit in the presidential box with First Lady Michelle Obama to watch the president's address on health care reform Wednesday evening. Wilkes introduced the president when he spoke in Grand Junction a few weeks ago and Obama has invited several Americans who had stories of high health insurance costs and other issues.

Wilkes says his family has been in a struggle with the insurance company ever since his 6-year-old son was born with hemophilia.

"We've been facing outrageous expenses. Insurance has gotten worse and worse. And eventually [my son] was kicked off the plan," Wilkes said.

To get health insurance for his son, since he'd reached his company insurance policy's cap, Wilkes quit his job and started his own company.

"Luckily, I'm healthy and I can take care of it and have insurance for my son. But if anything happened to me or my wife, we would lose everything," he said.

That's why Wilkes thinks the United States needs health care reform.

"You might be healthy. You might be happy with the insurance you get through work. But anything can happen," Wilkes said.

Spencer Tucker of Broomfield has a different opinion.

As a member of the Air Force, he injured both of his hips and sought to use his V.A. benefits to have his hip operated on.

He says he's been on a series of wait lists since 2007. He thinks health care reform could bring those long waits to the masses.

"There's going to be waiting lists. We're going to be waiting for simple medical procedures," he said.

Tucker thinks the government hasn't done a good job with its veterans health care programs so it shouldn't try to correct health care for general American citizens.

"I think the government should stay as far away from health care as humanly possible," he said. "They've shown that they can't run a health care system. Regardless of who's in office, it's the same bureaucrats running the same systems."

He thinks Americans should consider more than individual insurance policy prices when considering health care reform.

"Although I understand people wanting there to be a cheaper form of health care out there, I don't think they realize what they'd be getting themselves into," he said.

Tucker lost his job and can't return to work until his hip surgeries and physical therapies are complete. He doesn't know how long that will take. Until then, his wife and children are using the benefits his wife gets through work.

"The medical insurance that my family has is very sufficient," he said. "They can see a doctor whenever they need to."

While Nathan Wilkes will watch the speech in person and Spencer Tucker will watch it in person, both men say they'll be paying attention to what the president proposes because it will affect them both in different ways.

9NEWS will continue to feature the stories of local people who are affected by the debate over health care reform. Send your personal health care stories, opinions or questions on health care reform to tarhonda.thomas@9news.com.