Local protesters are sick of big insurance companies.
About 36 protesters lined along the sidewalk on Northwest 39th Avenue by Northwest 43rd Street Tuesday evening.
Their signs read "Public Option Now!"
Karen Epple, 49, Gainesville council coordinator for MoveOn.org, helped create the protest to inform the public on the issue of health care reform.
"If you have money, you have good insurance," Epple said. "These days, with people losing their jobs, they're going to be in a lot of trouble."
Epple, who first joined MoveOn.org in 2006, said she would like to start a chapter at UF to get students more involved.
"The students may not be worried about it," Epple said. "But what about their parents, or their grandparents? They might not be covered."
Medicare is a type of insurance not making a profit, but is only available for people with a disability or that are over 65. The protesters are fighting for an option similar to Medicare, but one that will be available to everyone, according to Epple.
Fred Pratt, 53, spokesman for the MoveOn Gainesville Council, knows the insurance business all to well.
Pratt, who has spina bifida, worked as a public assistance specialist for the Department of Children and Families about nine years ago.
"When I worked for the Department of Children and Families, I knew people who had a disability that weren't eligible for Medicaid, because he or she worked. But they didn't work enough for insurance at their job," Pratt said.
"What right do they have to be able to tell us if we can or cannot live?"
Pratt calls on students to do their part and become politically active by calling and e-mailing Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Corrine Brown.
"I've got a disability," Pratt said. "I've seen people get turned away because insurance won't cover them because of pre-existing conditions. It sucks. It's cruel."
Troid Brett, 59, owner of Floating Island Gift Shop in downtown Gainesville, said it's a struggle to stay in business because of insurance rates.
"I'm self-employed, that means I can't get good insurance," Brett said.
Brett said she paid about $12,000 out of her pocket for insurance, but only got covered for $150.
"We're just a 'mom and pop' store," Brett said. "We couldn't possibly get a discount for insurance."
