Blink-182's Mark Hoppus Pens Health Care Reform Editorial

Posted on Oct 26th 2009 10:00AM by John D. Luerssen
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Blink-182's Mark Hoppus isn't just backing President Obama's plan for healthcare reform -- the bassist and producer insists time is of the essence and scribed a new editorial on the subject for the political news site the Huffington Post. In the piece, Hoppus wrote about his interaction with Ali Vatter, a member of the catering crew on his band's recently wrapped summer tour who ran up medical bills of nearly $50,000 when she had to have her appendix removed but couldn't get coverage due to "pre-existing conditions."

"When a person's best option to pay for health care is to take to the Internet and ask for small donations from strangers, bold changes need to be made," Hoppus wrote. "Every day, while our elected officials and corporations argue over the best way to fix the problem of health care in America, more people like Ali are falling through the cracks, into bankruptcy and inadequate care. Mr. President, members of Congress, hospitals, doctors and insurance companies, there has to be a better way."

"About two months into the tour, at a show in Florida , she took ill and was rushed to the hospital," Hoppus added. "There the doctors determined she required emergency surgery to remove her appendix. Three days later, Ali walked out of the hospital and rejoined the tour. Out on the road, Ali and I discussed her surgery, and she informed me she was uninsured. My initial reaction was disbelief. Why would you not have insurance? Especially while on tour? Turns out I was asking the wrong question. The real question is: Why are you unable to get insurance?"

At her wit's end, Vatter put together a website asking people to donate any money they could and Hoppus says that he will personally match every dollar donated until her bills are repaid. In the meantime, Hoppus is pushing for politicians to join together and make a change.

"Ali's situation is a small portrait of a much larger issue being debated in national headlines and the hallways of Washington DC right now," he said. "Health care in America. The question is systemic in nature and problem: How do we as a nation provide quality health care to all of our citizens? It seems like a simple enough question. But yet, every day too many Americans go about their lives without proper coverage, with the risk of serious injury and financial ruin looming over their head if they fall ill or require surgery. This past month, I have seen the effect of unavailable and inadequate health insurance firsthand. Does anyone believe that the current system still works effectively? How and in what way do we change our current structure?"