Candidates make their cases to voters on health, housing

Norwich — Elected officials and their political challengers met Thursday night to discuss issues relating to state health care and housing policies in a forum sponsored by two nonprofit groups.

"We think it's important that we know where candidates stand (on these issues) because they tend to get lost in the campaign," said Robert Davidson, executive director of the Eastern Region Mental Health Board. "But they will be there when it comes time to take office."

Davidson's questions, which came from the Caring Families and Keep the Promise coalitions, two statewide advocacy groups, related to the role of the insurance agency in health care reform efforts in Connecticut, ways to make supportive housing more affordable and accessible, and whether the state should consider merging social service agencies as a cost-saving measure.

A discussion of insurance costs led state Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, to say she believes a single-payer health care system would lead to better care for Connecticut residents. Prague said insurance companies need to work with their customers to provide care, not focus on costs.

"I'm glad (the insurance industry) provides jobs to people in this state, but they have to provide health care for the people who pay their premiums," Prague said.

Her challenger, Republican Sean Sullivan, said he did not believe the insurance industry was the root of health care problems.

"I have a problem pointing at an industry and saying an industry is the problem," said Sullivan, who acknowledged that some companies and some individuals do not always look out in the best interest of their customers. "The issue becomes how do we control costs. They are putting people into difficult conditions -- companies passing along their costs. The system needs tort reform and other systemic changes."

State Rep. Christopher Coutu, R-Norwich, said that the state should hand over more of its services, especially in the field of mental health, to nonprofit groups, who can often serve people more effectively and at a lower cost than the state can.

"They do a great job, and they help a lot of people," Coutu said, noting that his wife works for a nonprofit organization that does mental health work. "They can save a lot of money and help a lot of people."

Unfortunately, Coutu and others noted, state funding to non-profit organizations is often the first to be cut during difficult budget processes.

Coutu also said that improving the state economy would allow companies to hire people, thus making more Connecticut residents able to receive health care plans.

"Jobs equals health care," Coutu said. "That's important to remember. Strong industries, strong businesses means more access to health care."

John Rodolico, a Republican challenging state Rep. Tom Reynolds, D-Ledyard, who did not attend the forum, said that the state should be focusing on reforming its own practices and policies before it forces more mandates on the insurance industry and other Connecticut companies.

"Why aren't we demanding that the state reform itself?" Rodolico said. "Does the state government ever look at itself and say 'Can we do better?'"

State Rep. Melissa Olson, D-Norwich, said the state government needs to do more in the area of supportive housing, which combines affordable housing and mental health programs. These programs, she said, help not just adults but a large number of children.

"We need to see a better investment in supportive housing," Olson said. "There needs to be a holistic view of how we are providing services to children and families."

The forum also included discussions from local residents, who described how their struggles with the insurance system and the state have impacted their lives.

Jennifer Gross of Ledyard said she lost her health insurance after her divorce, and eventually took a second job to obtain affordable health care for herself and her children. She took a second job, eventually working more than 60 hours each week.

"My health, my family and my job performance were all suffering," Gross said.

Eventually, she had to leave the second job and seek health insurance from the state, a process that was far more difficult than she expected, leaving her without insurance for a period of time.

"The realization that I was now one of the millions of Americans who can no longer get health insurance still shocks me."

m.collette@theday.com