Healthcare Headaches for Working Families and Small Business Owners

NOW
Programming Note

Airdate: Friday 05 May 2006, at 8:30 p.m. on PBS.
(Check local listings at http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html.)

Approximately 45 million Americans have no health insurance, even though most of them are working. In desperation, many fall prey to cheaper insurance plans that end up increasing misery instead of relieving it. On Friday, NOW looks at families who coped with both catastrophic illness as well as shockingly inadequate insurance. One insurance company, MEGA Life and Health Insurance, settled with a patient's widow for 1.7 million dollars, but offered more if she would sign a confidentiality agreement. She refused, and talked to NOW. The show will also examine a Congressional bill that would represent the biggest reorganization of health insurance in a decade. But some consumer advocates say it's a mistake that will strip patients of basic protections. Who's got the right idea? Your health may hang in the balance. This time on NOW.