HealthCareForAmericaNow

Contact:Levana Layendecker
Office: 202-454-6197

Washington, DC (August 27, 2008) – Health Care for America Now – an unprecedented coalition of labor unions, large community-based groups, women’s groups, doctors, nurses, small businesses, think tanks, and leading netroots activists – asks why the insurance industry’s front group – America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) -  continues this sham listening tour.

“Ever since this so-called ‘Listening Tour’ began we have skeptical of their motives.” says Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now. “The health insurance industry claims it wants to listen to the people on how to reform our nation’s health care system, but they have been denying coverage to people who need it as a matter of course for years.” The most recent stop in the tour was in Salt Lake City today.

Earlier this week, AHIP held an event that they claimed was in Denver, but it was actually only an online forum. AHIP solicited questions from the public, and Health Care for America Now supporters sent in over 1700 questions. None of those questions were answered during the online chat with Karen Ignagni, CEO of AHIP. Read the questions that AHIP didn’t answer here: http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/content/ahip/

AHIP launched its sham listening tour in Columbus, Ohio on July 22, 2008 and was met with grassroots opposition of more than 200 people protesting the insurance industry’s shameful practices of putting corporate profits before people’s health. The industry lobby group followed up with an event in Detroit that was not publicized until after the fact.  

Meanwhile in Utah, families are spending more of their paychecks on health insurance premiums.  From 2000 to 2006, family health insurance premiums in Utah rose 7.3 times faster than median earnings. (1) In spite of paying more, there are no guarantees of coverage. Utah resident Heidi Bleazard was dropped by Regence – one of the state’s biggest insurers – after a biking accident. Regence said her husband didn’t disclose his back condition. On top of losing their insurance, the Bleazards wound up with $100,000 in bills. They’re not alone. Over 190 Utah families and individuals say they’ve been dropped the same way between 2003 and 2006.(2)

1. “Premiums vs. Paychecks: A Growing Burden for Utah’s Workers,” Families USA, October 2006.
2. “Utah couple testifies on yanked coverage,” Salt Lake City Tribune, July 17, 2008; Lisa Rosetta, “Insurer yanked health policies,” Salt Lake Tribune, June 21, 2008.

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About Health Care For America Now: Launched on July 8, 2008 in Washington, DC and 52 cities (including 38 state capitals) across the country, Health Care for America Now is a national grassroots campaign committed to winning a guarantee of quality, affordable health care we all can count on. HCAN’s steering committee includes American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn.org, National Council of La Raza, National Education Association, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers, and USAction. With more than 219 member organizations – and more joining everyday - HCAN is building a movement that will expect health care reform to be the first order of business for the new President and Congress in 2009.