Health Care for America Now Asks Why Insurance Industry is Hiding Place/Time for Listening Tour
August 13, 2008
Contact: Jacki Schechner
Health Care for America Now
202-454-6196
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Washington, DC (August 13, 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) - is hiding the place and time of the second stop on its so-called listening tour.
“The health insurance industry claims it wants to listen to the people on how to reform our nation’s health care system. How do they expect to get real, honest feedback when they sneak around the country holding secret meetings in undisclosed locations?” says Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now.
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. Today, it continues its charade with a meeting in Detroit, MI announced quietly with no indication of where or at what time.
In 2007, Michigan carriers Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBS of MI), Health Alliance Plan of Michigan (HAP), and Priority Health reported combined profits of $77.7 million. HAP’s profits grew by 12.3 percent between 2004 and 2007 while its insured membership fell by 12.2 percent. By the end of last year, the three carriers had a combined surplus of $2.86 billion.[1]
Health insurance premiums in Michigan are increasing more than 8 times faster than paychecks.[2]
• From 2000 and 2006 family health insurance premiums rose 8.6 times faster than median earnings.
• While wages increased by 7.7%, the cost of family premiums increased by 66.4%. And the amount that employers paid increased by 58.3%.
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 135 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.
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[1] 07-25-08 Insuring Health or Ensuring Profit?: A Snapshot of the Health Insurance Industry in the United States (http://www.nwfco.org/pubs/2008.0727_insuring.health.or.ensuring.profit.pdf)
[2]Premiums vs. Paychecks: A growing burden for Michigan’s workers, Families USA, October 2006.
http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/publications/reports/mi-premiums-vs-paychecks.html
Contact: Jacki Schechner
Health Care for America Now
202-454-6196
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Washington, DC (August 13, 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) - is hiding the place and time of the second stop on its so-called listening tour.
“The health insurance industry claims it wants to listen to the people on how to reform our nation’s health care system. How do they expect to get real, honest feedback when they sneak around the country holding secret meetings in undisclosed locations?” says Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now.
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. Today, it continues its charade with a meeting in Detroit, MI announced quietly with no indication of where or at what time.
In 2007, Michigan carriers Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBS of MI), Health Alliance Plan of Michigan (HAP), and Priority Health reported combined profits of $77.7 million. HAP’s profits grew by 12.3 percent between 2004 and 2007 while its insured membership fell by 12.2 percent. By the end of last year, the three carriers had a combined surplus of $2.86 billion.[1]
Health insurance premiums in Michigan are increasing more than 8 times faster than paychecks.[2]
• From 2000 and 2006 family health insurance premiums rose 8.6 times faster than median earnings.
• While wages increased by 7.7%, the cost of family premiums increased by 66.4%. And the amount that employers paid increased by 58.3%.
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 135 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.
___________________________________
[1] 07-25-08 Insuring Health or Ensuring Profit?: A Snapshot of the Health Insurance Industry in the United States (http://www.nwfco.org/pubs/2008.0727_insuring.health.or.ensuring.profit.pdf)
[2]Premiums vs. Paychecks: A growing burden for Michigan’s workers, Families USA, October 2006.
http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/publications/reports/mi-premiums-vs-paychecks.html
