For years our leaders ignored our complaints about unreliable and outrageously expensive health coverage. But this week, Congress votes on a budget blueprint to finally get us some real health care changes. Tell them not to let us down!
The President is proposing a down payment in his budget to get us more affordable and reliable health coverage. But many in Congress want to push the problem of health care reform down the road once again. Meanwhile, laid-off workers lose their health coverage, and insurance companies deny the sickest coverage. Those businesses and individuals still with insurance pay higher costs to cover those who can’t get, or afford, coverage.
This cycle can't continue. We've seen on Wall Street what happens when our leaders close their eyes to a growing problem. Tell your members of Congress to open their eyes and build on the President's budget down payment for health reform!
Subject: Support health reform in the budget
Dear [Decision Maker],
For far too long the very real problem of expensive, unreliable health coverage has been ignored in our nation. As you vote this week on a budget resolution, I urge you to support a real investment in health reform, and begin making a down payment on the improvements we need to give laid-off workers, small-business owners and struggling families the choice of more affordable, dependable health coverage.
Right now, we're forced to accept coverage from the giant insurance companies who profit handsomely while denying pre-existing conditions, refuse needed treatments, and continually increase our co-pays, deductibles and out-of-pockets costs.
Nearly a third of people with health insurance have coverage so meager they postpone medical care because of costs. More workers are dropping their job-based coverage because they can't afford the premiums, and small-business owners are held hostage to insurance company price hikes and coverage denials. If unemployment hits 10 percent this year as many as 13 million Americans will have lost their employer health insurance since 2007.
We need real health choices that will give us real economic help: The right to choose coverage offered by my employer, coverage offered by private insurers, or a public plan that will guarantee me consistent benefits and reduce my health care costs.
With reliable coverage available, people will get regular and early care instead of waiting for an illness to become a costly and dangerous emergency. Access to a dependable plan will improve the early detection of life threatening conditions, and deliver better education about healthy choices. Guaranteeing coverage will eliminate medical debt and medical bankruptcies. A public plan will bring down costs for everyone and help us improve our economy overall.
You took a good first step in February by including some health funding in the stimulus package. I urge you now to please include in your budget a down payment to help struggling families get the health care they need, while providing health security to small-business owners and unemployed workers.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
