I am a pharmacist, I have patients who are struggling under the current Healthcare system. They cannot afford their medications, they are inundated with paperwork and complicated prior authorizations which restrict care when they need it most. As a provider I am concerned about the current Healthcare system because the reimbursement rates are so low that they are driving small business pharmacies and doctor clinics out of business. This negatively affects rural areas which have a high Medicaid population which are seeing hospitals close, and doctors and pharmacies opt out of taking their insurance or outright close, making the already vulnerable population that much more vulnerable. 

I am also a patient and I want the Democratic party candidates to have the opportunity to Explain explicitly what they want our Healthcare system to be under their presidency. After 3 debates it is still unclear what each candidate stands for with respect to Healthcare. We had a climate change Town Hall as well as a climate change forum but truthfully the most important issue to Americans other than climate change is Health Care. It is affecting every single person in America, young and old, rich and poor, urban and rurual and it is too big of an issue for 30 second responses at the debates. We need clarity on this issue especially for our seniors on Medicare, our Medicaid patients, our active military on Tricare and those on the Veterans Administration as well as those on the Affordable Care act.

My mother is on the Affordable Care Act and it is so important to me that she has Healthcare we can afford. while she was on the Affordable Care Act she got hit with an $11,000 surprise bill from hospital that was out of network with a doctor that was in network. I have employer-sponsored health insurance that is costing me over $11,000 per year before I even go to the doctor. I spent over $6,000 on my healthy, vaginal, childbirth. If I included out of pocket expenses my health care expenditures this year alone cost over $18,000. But I haven't even gone to the dentist yet because I don't want to know how much it will cost. My story is not unique but I need assurance that who I vote for will be able to address the short comings of both public health insurance and private health insurance.

This is not an issue that should be gaslighted, we don't need people's whole perspectives being swayed by an advertisement by big pharma or by big insurance. I will take these results to the Democratic National Committee and show them that healthcare is too important to be a 30 second soundbite. We need a full conversation to make an informed decision.