By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – A national report shows Americans pay substantially more for health coverage now than they did four years ago, but are receiving fewer benefits.
The nonprofit group Families USA - which reportedly supports Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry -- reports that between 2000 and 2004, premiums for Missouri workers rose twice as fast as their average earnings.
Mark Fraley with the Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition says President Bush has failed to address the crisis, instead leaving consumers susceptible to price gouging.
"The only thing he's done for seniors and people with disabilities is sold them out to his donors at the insurance companies," Fraley said. "(He)has not even mentioned the crisis amongst people who work and are not getting health insurance."
The Department of Health and Human Services refutes the report, emphasizing President Bush's success in passing the Medicare prescription drug benefit program last December.