Hoosiers rally for healthcare reform

A group of Hoosiers gathered for the 3rd Annual Rally for Health Reform in downtown Indianapolis Wednesday. They marched and chanted from Monument Circle to Senator Evan Bayh's office.

"The people here today support expanding healthcare to all Americans via a public program like Medicare, for all," said rally organizer, Julia Vaughn.

The Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana said roughly 46 million Americans go without healthcare -- 800,000 in Indiana. And at least 50 percent of all bankruptcies are the result of healthcare bills.

The group protested while health insurer WellPoint held its annual stockholders' meeting. Those who gathered said the nation spends about a trillion dollars on healthcare every year. About 18 percent of that, they say, goes toward overhead and high salaries -- it's money they say could be better used elsewhere.

They're pointing fingers at WellPoint and Senator Bayh, whose wife serves on WellPoint’s board of directors. But Bayh's office said the senator has often voted against WellPoint. 24-Hour News 8 also tried to contact WellPoint, but our messages weren't returned. For all the side issues, the demonstrators simply want healthcare for all.

"We worry about what's going to happen with our son, who is still working without healthcare coverage, after we're gone," said protestor Pat Brantlinger.

Kirsten Eckert added, "I have insurance, but it's catastrophic because I can't afford both the insurance and getting to see a doctor. I haven't seen a doctor, and this has been nine years.”

Ultimately, the protesters want Congress to support the president's plan expanded healthcare.