Steve and Lori Krout of Palm Harbor, Florida were frustrated; they couldn’t find a visible way to show their avid support for health care reform, so they decided to create their own graphic symbol: a Health Care Reform Flag. Based on the American Flag and a capital letter “H” reminiscent of hospital information signs, the emblem, which includes the slogan Health Care Reform Now, graces bumper stickers and auto magnets, and is featured on the blog: www.healthcarereformflag.com.
The Krout family, like many others in the nation, has been impacted by rising healthcare costs; their own family insurance costs are high, due to self-employment and pre-existing conditions, and rates continue to rise.
“We work for ourselves, and because we cannot get group plans though an employer, our insurance rates are practically unreachable,” Lori Krout says. “Insurers have advised us against making changes because we could lose our ability to qualify again due to our pre-existing conditions. We pay exorbitant prices for healthcare which are growing dangerously close to our monthly home mortgage costs,” Krout adds. “In return, we have plans with high deductibles, scant coverage, and lots of qualifiers we must meet. Even with our health insurance plans, prescription drugs are outrageously expensive; many priced beyond our reach,” she states.
The Krouts were inspired to take action, creating this emblem as well as a blog to promote support for health care reform. They hope to get their Health Care Reform Flag bumper stickers and magnets out to thousands, and raise money and support for a plan that includes a public option. Fifty percent of all profits are being donated back to health care reform efforts.
“This symbol offers a quiet yet effective way to show support for those of us who don’t scream and shout about reform,” Krout states. Empowered by the need for change in America’s health care system, the Krouts’ commitment to the reform movement is exemplified in the flag that is at the core of their Health Care Reform Flag project.
About Health Care Reform Flag
The Health Care Reform Flag is an effort started by Steve and Lori Krout to get a symbol for the Health Care Reform movement in the hands of supporters and build unity for reform efforts. For ways to get involved, visit the project’s blog at www.healthcarereformflag.com
