Health Care For America Now

According to a new report from Health Care for America Now¹, in the last decade, health care costs have risen four times faster than wages, putting small businesses and our families in a desperate squeeze. What is the cause of that rise? The insurance industry’s monopoly.

In the past 13 years, health insurance companies have merged with each other at a frightening rate, and now a small number of companies dominate local markets. Today, 94 percent of insurance markets in the United States have no meaningful competition.

Without competition, insurers have no incentive to keep prices down, and are free to charge us what they want. And without choice, families and business owners can’t pick an insurance plan that meets their needs.

Can you write a letter to the editor of your local paper using the statistics about insurance monopolies in your state (which is provided on the next page)? Make the case that we need real choice to serve our needs and drive down prices, and that means being able to choose a public health insurance option if we want.

Fill in your zip code on the right to get started.

1. Premiums Soar As Insurers Face Less Competition – Health Care for America Now, 5/20/09