Real health care reform is moving quickly in Congress, and critical decisions about the shape of the final legislation are being made right now.  Opponents of health care reform, like the insurance companies, are working overtime to weaken or even eliminate key elements of reform.

Our legislative team on Capitol Hill has told us one of your senators is a key target.

Can you remind these target senators about our priorities for real health care reform?

Here are the three key elements of real health care reform that are in danger:

• A strong public health insurance option is necessary to make health care reform work.
• All employers need to either provide health care to their employees or pay into a system to make sure everyone is covered. No more corporate freeloaders.
• Workers' health care benefits must not be taxed.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am excited that real health care reform is moving quickly in Congress. While you debate the final shape of the legislation, I want to remind you about three key principles for reform:

1) A public health insurance plan makes reform work. It will bring down costs and guarantee quality, affordable health care for all. Giving everyone the choice of a strong public health insurance plan will inject needed competition into the market and drive lower costs and improved quality across all plans. It also will mean that health care will be there for all of us, no matter what.

2) Employers must pay their fair share. They must be required to either offer coverage to their workers or pay into a fund to finance coverage for uninsured workers. "Play or pay" at fair and reasonable levels will level the playing field so free-rider firms cannot continue to shift costs to the employers that offer good benefits.

3) Workers health care benefits must not be taxed. Taxing health benefits will raise costs for workers when they need relief. Putting a new tax on job-based benefits will raise costs for workers in plans that cost the most because they cover people with more medical problems and older people--and that's wrong. Studies show that putting a cap on tax-free benefits will have the biggest hit on workers in small firms and firms with older workers and retirees, and on family plans that cover children.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 17, 2009