Oberstar meets with Cloquet family to discuss healthcare by Staff Appearing in Northland's News Center on 2009-09-03. Meet Ethan Skare, he may look like a normal twenty year old but since his birth his life has been anything but ordinary. Ethan said "In '91 I had a liver transplant and then since then I've taken meds and going in and out of hospitals and clinics and dealing with insurance companies and what not." Ethan is doing better now, but still depends on a host of expensive medication that allows him to live as close to a normal life as possible. Ethan's medical condition has forced his family to make difficult decisions but when their insurance company decided to drop the family's coverage, the Skare's were in for another tough battle. Ethan's father Tom said "In addition to dealing with the physical issues and the emotional issues that go with that, we had to deal with the financial issues by fighting for insurance and then with insurance companies once we were able to obatain coverage." Ethan's story and thousands of similar ones have fuled the health care debate. On Tuesday, Minnesota congressman Jim Oberstar met with the family, and says their situation is a perfect argument as to why health care reform is needed. Oberstar said "The story I just heard now argues vigorously for controls that will prohibit a company from denying coverage on the basis of a pre-existing coverage." Some have criticized some of the health care reform plans including Sara Palin, objecting to what she calls "death panels" Congressman Oberstar had some harsh words for the former Vice-Presidential Candidate. Oberstar remarked ''Who is she? From Alaska? Seeking to create a contrary niche in the Republican Party for herself, to say there's death panels--bologna, there is no such provision in the bill." The congressman believes a comprehensive health care bill will be passed this year. For Ethan, he starts his first year at the University of Wisconsin-Superior tomorrow.

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