Thursday, August 20, 2009

Health care reform: The time to demand action is NOW!

Reforming this nation's patchwork system on health care has been debated for decades. Powerful forces and big-monied interests have always thwarted real reform.

But we won't be shouted down. When Congress reconvenes in September, the stage will be set for a historic battle over health care. We can win real reform, improve the delivery of health care, cut its massive cost to individuals and business, and help pull ourselves out of the recession by calling our representative and senators and asking them to support legislation to fix the system.

"We need meaningful health care reform if we are going to get our economy going again," said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. "Decent, affordable health care should be a right of every American, not a privilege."

Please contact your representative and senators right away by calling (877) 264-4226. You can keep informed about the health care reform debate by signing up for e-wires (at right) from the UAW. The following resources from Health Care for America NOW! are also helpful:

-- Frequently asked questions about health care reform, pdf 535 KB.

-- National Health Care Report, pdf 739 KB.

The House is expected to take up legislation reported by three committees that would:

-- Ensure that 97 percent of Americans have health insurance coverage.

-- Provide subsidies to ensure that coverage is affordable for working families.

-- Require employers to contribute to the cost of coverage.

-- Guarantee individuals choice of health care plans and physicians.

-- Prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions, or from charging exorbitant premiums to individuals who are sick or older.

-- Establish a public plan option to provide competition for private insurance companies, thereby holding down costs.

-- Lower health care costs by eliminating the hidden tax of "uncompensated care," and by reforming the delivery of health care and provider payments.

-- Provide assistance to employers and Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Associations (VEBAs) to help them continue coverage for early retirees.

-- Improve Medicare's prescription drug coverage for retirees.

-- Pay for health care reform through progressive taxes, NOT by taxing workers' health care benefits.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) has reported a bill similar to the House legislation.

The UAW and a broad coalition of progressive organizations are strongly supporting the House health care reform bill and the bill reported by the Senate HELP Committee. These bills would provide enormous benefits to working families, including UAW members:

-- Workers would no longer have to fear the loss of health care coverage if they are laid off or their employers go bankrupt.

-- Coverage for retirees would be strengthened and made more secure.

-- Individuals would be protected from discriminatory practices by insurance companies.

-- Health care costs would be lowered significantly, so premiums, co-pays and deductibles do not continue to escalate faster than wages.

Not surprisingly, insurance companies and various right-wing groups are mounting a campaign to block health care reform. To counter their dishonest, disruptive scare tactics, UAW activists need to join with our progressive allies in sending a strong message to members of Congress that NOW is the time to pass genuine health care reform. Please contact your representative and senators right away by calling (877) 264-4226.

Urge representatives to vote for the House health care reform bill that has been reported by three committees. Tell senators to support the legislation reported by the HELP committee.

Together we can win decent, affordable health care for all Americans, reduce its massive costs to individuals and businesses and get our economy moving again.