Greetings,

Tell your U.S. Senators:

Real health care reform can't wait, but don't tax workers to pay for it.

Over 47 million Americans, including 8.7 million children, have no health coverage at all. 60% of U.S. personal bankruptcies involve medical bills.

Even union workers, who have led the way in securing health benefits for working people, are in danger of losing secure health coverage because of out-of-control costs. And as the cost of our benefits goes up, there is less money when we bargain for raises and other items in our contracts.

Meanwhile, insurance and drug companies are making stunning profits. Health insurance CEOs averaged $8.7 million in 2006 compensation and pharmaceutical company CEOs pulled down an average of $4.4 million.

Congress has been working hard to fix health care, but some U.S. Senators think workers should pay for it by taxing employer health benefits. This is the wrong way to go. Instead, the Senate should look to insurance market reforms, employer "play or pay" and cost containment.

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Subject: No taxation of Health Care Benefits

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

I support Senate efforts to reform our health care system in order to provide affordable health care for all Americans. However, I urge you to oppose any proposals that would create a tax on worker benefits.

In a tough economy, the last thing that working Americans need are additional taxes.

A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund found that workers with employer-provided benefits earning between $40,000 and $50,000 a year would see their tax liability rise by an average of 28%. Those making more than $200,000 would see an average increase of one-tenth of 1%.

It would be inexcusable to make the very people who have been hardest hit by skyrocketing premiums, larger co-pays and deductibles and more exclusions in coverage, pay a disproportionate share of the cost of health care reform.

Rather, I support Senate efforts to look at insurance market reforms, employer "play or pay" and cost containment as ways to fund the expansion of affordable health care.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]