Health Care For America Now

True Affordability and Insurance Accountability Are Top Priorities

Watch the ad: HealthCareforAmericaNow.org/Marathon
See the new website: FinishReformRight.com

Washington, DC – Health Care for America Now (HCAN) – the nation’s largest health care campaign – is kicking off the New Year asking the President and Congress to make sure good health care is truly affordable and that reform includes ways to hold insurance companies accountable. Nearly 30,000 individuals, about 100 organizations, and several prominent experts have already signed on to a letter urging President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and  Majority Leader Reid to resolve a number of critical outstanding issues as they work to finalize comprehensive health care reform legislation in the coming weeks. Click here for a full list of signatories so far.

A new website – FinishReformRight.com – features the letter to the President and Congressional Leadership asking the following:

1. Make good health care affordable
Low and middle income families must be able to afford health insurance, and employers must be asked to provide good health coverage for their employees so health care is affordable at work. Health care should not be paid for with a tax on health benefits.

2. Hold insurance companies accountable
If the insurance companies win, we lose. Insurance companies must be held accountable with strong regulations and consumer protections, and we must be given the choice of a national public health insurance option available on day one across the United States.

“In these last crucial weeks, heath care reform comes down to two questions: will health coverage be affordable to our families, and will insurance companies be held accountable for putting profits before our health?” said Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now. “Across the country, we are organizing people to tell President Obama and Congress that they should finish reform right.”

Starting this morning at 9am, FinishReformRight.com will also feature 24 hours of stories. Every hour until 9am Wednesday, the website will feature the story of someone who is fighting for or will be helped by reform.  HCAN and its coalition partners have spent the past 18 months working to help bring to light the stories of people across the nation whose lives have been hurt by skyrocketing medical costs and dwindling access to care.

In addition to the letter and the online push, a new TV ad called “Marathon” begins airing today. The $400,000 buy covers national cable and some DC-area broadcast programming, and it spotlights the benefits of the House health care bill. These include employer responsibility, true affordability for low to middle income families, fair financing rather than a tax on health care plans, and a national public health insurance option. “Marathon” encourages the President and Congress to finish reform wisely.

“Marathon” Script:

VIDEO:

Throughout ad footage of marathon appears and changes to coincide with various points.

SUPER:  We’re on the verge of historic reform. 

Change SUPER: Let’s make the health care bill as strong as possible.

SUPER in one section:  House Health Care Plan.  SUPER:  GOOD COVERAGE at work. 

SUPER: WON’T PAY A TAX on health benefits

SUPER:  Insurance You CAN AFFORD

SUPER:  KEEP BENEFITS You Have Now

White dissolve through to HCAN logo, website and SUPER: Tell the President and Congress.  We need good health care we can afford with the choice of a public health insurance option.

AUDIO AND DOCUMENTATION:

We’re on the verge of historic reform, a major step forward for America.

Let’s make sure the health care bill is as strong as possible.

Under the House plan, we’ll be offered good coverage at work.

“The bill creates shared responsibility among individuals, employers and government to ensure that all Americans have affordable coverage of essential health benefits.”
Source: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/health_care/hr3962_SUMMARY.pdf

And we won’t pay a tax on our health benefits.

“Senate version -- A 40 percent excise tax on so-called Cadillac health plans”
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/19/us/politics/1119-plan-comparison.html#tab=15

If you’re self-employed or between jobs, you’ll be able to afford insurance.

“The affordability credits will make insurance premiums affordable and will reduce cost-sharing to levels that ensure access to care.”
Source: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/health_care/hr3962_SUMMARY.pdf

And you can keep the benefits you have now.

“The bill builds on what works in today’s health care system and fixes the parts that are broken. It protects current coverage – allowing individuals to keep the insurance they have if they like it – and preserves choice of doctors, hospitals, and health plans.”
Source: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/health_care/hr3962_SUMMARY.pdf

We’re at the finish line. Tell the President and Congress, choose wisely. Get it right for us.