Support our option to choose a public health plan!

We need health care reform in 2009! But the chances of getting real reform are in jeopardy, and Washington Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray need to hear from YOU to achieve this goal.

As a fundamental component of health care reform, President Obama has proposed that businesses and families have the choice of keeping the insurance they have or buying into a public health insurance plan that competes with private insurers to lower costs and keep the insurance industry honest. Recently, proposals are surfacing in the Senate Finance Committee (on which Sen. Cantwell sits) that delay or dilute the public option, such as with private health "co-ops."

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) has publicly supported Obama’s vision for health care reform, including the choice of a public health insurance plan. But Sen. Cantwell has yet to unequivocally endorse a public option. Sen. Murray should be thanked for her support, and we must encourage Sen. Cantwell to stand with us in supporting the public option.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

We're counting on you! President Obama has advanced a vision for health care reform this year that guarantees everyone in America with the choice of a public health insurance plan. A public option is essential to successfully lower costs, keep the insurance industry honest and guarantee we all have coverage we can count on.

Any proposals that dilute and delay that option -- including private health "co-ops" -- are no substitute. If it's not national, not publicly accountable, doesn't have bargaining clout, and isn't ready on day one, then it's not a strong public health insurance option, and it won't fix our health care system.

I'm writing to thank Sen. Murray for her outspoken support of a public health-plan option, and to urge Sen. Cantwell to do the same.

The Health Care for America Now campaign -- which includes the Washington State Labor Council and many union organizations from our state -- is organizing a National Mobilization in Washington, DC on June 25, bringing thousands of people from 40 states to rally for comprehensive health care reform.

A delegation from Washington state, including small business owners, health care providers, community organization members and labor union rank-and-file, is participating in this important lobby day.

Our message: "Health Care '09: We can't wait!"

Because health care is an issue that affects everyone, a group of local grassroots participants in the Health Care for America Now campaign who couldn't make the trip to DC are visiting each of your offices across the state on June 25 to ask you for your support. We want to make sure you know how important the work you're doing in D.C. is to your constituents back home, and how important it is to us that you support health care reform with a public option.

At the end of this year, we will be proud when we can say that together we won quality, affordable health care for everyone.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 23, 2009

Background Information

A just-released poll by the independent, nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute shows 83% of Americans support a public health insurance plan option. President Obama’s health care plan says you can keep your current health insurance, pick a new plan, or join a new public health insurance option -- one that would serve to control costs and keeping the insurance companies honest.

Sen. Patty Murray has come out publicly in favor of a strong public option, but Sen. Maria Cantwell has yet to unequivocally endorse the choice of a public plan.

“The private health insurers have given us no good choices – we either pay more or get less. We need better choices,” said Deana Knutsen, board chair of Washington CAN!, the state’s largest grassroots community organization. “We need the choice of a public health insurance plan in the marketplace because it is the only way we can bring down costs and get insurance companies to finally treat us fairly. We applaud Senator Murray for championing President Obama’s vision for health care reform that gives Washingtonians better choices. We’re confident that after Senator Cantwell fully examines the options, she will side with Washington families and small businesses rather than insurance industry CEOs in supporting the need for a public option.”