Tell Senator Roberts: Reform Health Care the Right Way

What will happen to your health care when you retire? What about during the next round of bargaining? Or if your company goes bankrupt or you change jobs? And can you afford to have your health care benefits taxed?

Right now in the Senate, behind the scenes work is being done that will affect how these questions are answered. We need your help today because reform has to be done the right way, including the right priorities, from the start.

Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas is on the Finance Committee, and will be one of the first to mark up this legislation. It's especially important for you to tell your Senators about the right way to reform the health care system.

Please feel free to individualize your letter with your own health care story. Speak out now:

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Real Health Care Reform

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Please support quality affordable health care for all that:

* Requires every employer to provide high-quality coverage for their workers or pay into a fund to cover the uninsured. * Creates a public health insurance plan that anyone can join. The choice of a public health plan will force the for-profit insurance companies to compete. * Guarantees high-quality coverage for pre-Medicare retirees. * Does not tax the health care benefits of working families.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 07, 2009


Background Information

Every employer must pay. Much of the cost of uninsured workers who get sick is built into the insurance premiums paid by individuals and employers. Today, employers who offer health insurance pay as much as $1,000 per family to cover the uninsured and to make up for freeloading corporations that don't offer health benefits. Real reform must make all employers offer coverage.

Benefits should not be taxed. Not only will taxing benefits hurt working families, it would disproportionately hurt low-income families, single parents, and small businesses. There are better ways to raise revenue to pay for health care, such as closing offshore tax loopholes. Taxing benefits will also undercut employers who provide insurance.

Provide a choice of private or public insurance plans. Insurance companies make billions in profits by charging outrageous premiums and denying coverage to those who need it most. Government plans -- like Medicare -- can use their leverage to negotiate lower prices. And they spend more on care, less on paperwork.

Retirees must be protected. While many retirees have health care today, corporations continue to slash benefits. Each negotiating session involves epic struggles to keep these benefits and protect our retirees.