While the debate over health care reform continues, so do the problems North Carolinians face in our current system of health care.   A new WRAL documentary, Focal Point: “Critical Condition,” profiles real people facing real challenges in our health care system. It airs Wednesday, December 2, 2009, at 7:00pm and is hosted by WRAL News anchor David Crabtree.

Nearly 1.6 million people in North Carolina have no health insurance. Most of them simply can’t afford to buy it. Those who do have insurance sometimes find out they’re not covered for some conditions leaving them buried under a mountain of medical debt.

Skyrocketing health care costs have prevented many businesses from providing health care coverage for their employees and have put a financial squeeze on businesses that do provide health coverage.  As the US Senate considers health care reform legislation, a partisan debate over reform continues. 

Focal Point: “Critical Condition” goes beyond the debate and examines the challenges people and businesses in North Carolina face right now in our current health care system.  It profiles the uninsured, under-insured and people struggling with the high cost of health care. 

It also looks at how some medical providers have tried to create a safety net to treat some of the uninsured as a temporary measure until a permanent solution can be found. 

Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Debbie Tullos for this capcom story.