Michael McCauley

Self-employed hairdresser Jill Thomason of Dalton, Ga., says she's generally healthy, but she told Georgia's U.S. lawmakers on Thursday she's keeping her fingers crossed.

Ms. Thomason, 44, can't afford health insurance. She dropped her individual policy five years ago when her Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia premiums rate doubled, from about $270 per month to $550 per month.

"Luckily, I'm healthy, but should I go out and get in a car wreck or get a serious illness, I could be like one of these other people that loses their home or has to file bankruptcy," Ms. Thomason said by telephone Thursday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, she shared those concerns directly with U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal and spoke with aides for U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. All are Georgia Republicans.

Her trip to Washington, D.C., was organized by Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine.

Consumers Union brought 35 people to the nation's capital to lobby their legislators for broad health care reform, CU media director Michael McCauley said. They are representative of the weaknesses in the current health care system, he said.

"We wanted to make sure that the interests of ordinary consumers, Americans, were also heard during this debate," Mr. McCauley said.

Though Democrats, Republicans and independents mostly say they support health care reform, they don't agree on how or how much to overhaul the current system, Mr. McCauley said.

One of the most controversial questions is whether consumers should have the option of a public, government-run insurance option alongside private insurers' plans, Mr. McCauley said.

Consumers Union supports this option, one pushed by President Barack Obama, but the proposal has faced strong opposition from Republicans and moderate Democrats. Consumers Union surveys show that nearly two-thirds of Americans would support a public plan option as part of health care reform, he said.

Ms. Thomason said Rep. Deal stepped out of a committee meeting to speak with her.

He was "attentive and very cordial," and said he had many proposals to consider, Ms. Thomason said.

She said aides for the Georgia senators listened to her story and noted that there are many options on the table, though they said the senators do not support a public plan option.

LEGISLATORS' RESPONSE

n Sen. Johnny Isakson: Health care needs reform, but a public health plan option would put private insurers at a disadvantage.

"We need to look at solutions that will stimulate competition in a market-based system to encourage private health insurers to compete for business and make health insurance more affordable for consumers," he said.

n Rep. Nathan Deal: Many people who don't get insurance through work and can't afford a private plan. He does not support a public plan option but favors a premium subsidy program for low-income people.

n Bronwyn Lance Chester in Sen. Saxby Chambliss' office declined to comment on meetings with individual constituents for privacy reasons.