At the end of July, a local teacher got on a plane for the first time in 28 years to fly to Washington and advocate for health care reform.

Joseph Rochelle, a New Iberia resident and teacher at Pesson Elementary School, arrived as a representative of grass-roots, faith-based network Congregations Organizing People for Equality, or COPE, a faith-based organization in Lafayette and a member organization of the national People Improving Communities through Organizing, or PICO.

This is the first time he’s taken part in such an effort.

Joseph Rochelle of New Iberia recently returned from Washington, where he was an advocate for health care reform. - Mary Catharine Martin / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

Also with Rochelle were Louisianians from fellow PICO affiliates the MICAH project, based in New Orleans, and the Faith United Empowering Leadership, or FUEL, based in New Roads.

Rochelle and his wife, Marilyn, who works at the Arc of Iberia, have five children, ages 16 to 21. The two youngest are covered through LaCHIP, but the three oldest are 19 or older, past the cut-off age.

“My concern is for the future, and how my children will be able to afford health care,” says Rochelle.

“Right now, with McDonald’s and Menard Brothers jobs, they just can’t afford it on their own ... we need to have health care reform that will reach all Americans.”

With increasing costs of his own plan and health care, as well as two sons not covered by his plan, Rochelle worries about anything unexpected. He lives paycheck to paycheck and says any unexpected expense — such as a recent high plumbing bill and refrigerator breakdown — could have a major impact on his budget.

Affordable health care could give his children a chance to afford preventative care, which would both lower health care costs later on down the line and help keep them healthy from illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and cancer, of which the family has a history, he said.

Minister Scott Thomas, director of COPE, said many people harbor a misconception about what those advocating for universal health care or a public option want.

“We aren’t looking for free health care. We’re just looking for affordable health care,” he said.

As Rochelle was unable to meet personally with U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, or U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter in Washington, Rochelle and his companions delivered their message to their aides.

Rochelle is trying to schedule a personal meeting with representatives now that they’re back in their home districts for the recess on Tuesday — a date picked by PICO for a national call-in campaign about health care reform.

The goals on the booklet Rochelle wants to get to the area’s delegation include considering subsidies for families making up to 400 percent of the poverty level, protecting families up to 200 percent of the poverty level from being charged premiums, a global cap on premiums and out of pocket expenses at 13 percent of income (8 percent of premiums and 5 percent for out of pocket expenses) and offering a benefit package equivalent to that of federal employees, especially for preventative care. PICO says 681,000 uninsured Louisianians would gain access to affordable coverage and 703,000 Louisianians would qualify for help in buying coverage if those points were enacted.

As a member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church in New Iberia, under the Monsignor Ronald Broussard, Rochelle said what he’s doing wouldn’t be possible without the support of religious leaders.

Rochelle said the mission of taking the needs of the poor and disenfranchised to civic leaders is a Christian mission.

“It’s enhancing the church’s role in the ministry of social justice,” he said.

Rochelle said he’ll “never be the same again” after going to Washington.

“It’s the local organizations that have the power,” he said.

“Uniting for different issues ... meeting with leaders not in protest, but in conversation and negotiation.”