TEXAS AFT LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE--THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Action Alert: Call Congress Now in Support of a Real Health-Care Reform Bill--H.R. 3962!

Finally, after a long, drawn-out legislative struggle, a health-care reform bill that is worthy of your support has emerged in the U.S. House. Action on the bill is imminent--the latest word is that debate in the full House will begin tomorrow, culminating in a vote on final House passage of the bill Saturday around 6 pm.

Why does this Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962, deserve your support? It meets the key requirements that the American Federation of Teachers and Texas AFT have insisted on from day one of this national health-care debate. It will cover nearly everyone--96 percent of Americans. It will end insurance companies' abuses, require employers to pay a fair share, and include a strong public option to lower health-care costs and make insurance companies compete. It is fully and fairly funded, and it won't tax the health benefits of middle-class working families.

Please call your member of the U.S. House today and urge him or her to vote "yes" on H.R. 3962! The toll-free number is 1-877-323-5246. Just ask the operator to put you through to your representative. (Not sure who represents you? Go to www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us and plug in your street address to find out.)

If you need any more motivation, keep reading. H.R. 3962:

  • Ends co-pays for preventive services, meaning fewer costly ER visits and hospitalizations.
  • Ends denial of coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
  • Stops lifetime limits on coverage.
  • Caps administrative costs and streamlines bill processing, meaning less waste and fewer hassles for you and your doctor.
  • Requires coverage of your children on your family plan until age 27 if you request it.
  • Prohibits price-fixing and collusion by insurance companies.
  • Helps employers and unions reduce costs of coverage for early retirees (55- to 64-year-olds).
  • Reduces drug costs for Medicare Part D by shrinking the "donut hole" and (finally!) allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with the drug companies.
  • Increases the number of primary-care doctors and primary-care community health centers.
These are just some of the important ways this bill would hold down your health-care costs, improve the quality of care, and make sure you and your family have coverage you can count on. Call your U.S. House member now to help pass H.R. 3962. That toll-free number again is 1-877-323-5246.