Today in the states: Blue Cross hears it in North Carolina, Rep. Tonko rallies in New York
Posted on August 21st, 2009 by Jason Rosenbaum in Take Action!
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There's a lot out there that the media is missing. Especially the national media, who prefer to concentrate on crazy people at town halls. And yet, I get dozens of reports every day of pro-health care reform rallies all across the country. Here are some of those reports.
In North Carolina, our partners are protested in front of the biggest insurer in the state. Blue Cross Blue Shield is raking in the profits [pdf] (up $48 million per year from 2004 to 2007 alone) while premiums skyrocket (up 75% in seven years). A call went out far and wide to health reform supporters, asking them to show up.
We received this message in response:
Dear Friends,
I am 82 years old and would stand with you if only I could. I agree one hundred percent that Blue Cross, Blue Shield should not even be a for profit company. When I joined this company I was told that it was a non-profit company. And that is not true!
My heart is willing to stand with you, but my osteoarthritis knees cannot do it. I hope that a big crowd will be there. I will be pulling for you.
Thanks for all you are doing to help us get a public option for our new health care reform.
–Jane
We will be standing tall in your honor, Jane.
And in New York, Rep. Tonko spoke about the need for real health care reform. First, Beverly Padgett spoke:
Beverly Padgett, who nearly died when her sugar level rose to a dangerous level, was one protester who argued for the public option. "Right now in America, if you're poor, you get poor health care. Those with the Cadillac health insurance plans can afford to pay the high price for comprehensive coverage. That type of coverage should be accessible to all Americans no matter their income level", said Padgett, "Within our current system you either pay now or you pay later." Because of a lapse in her insurance due to inability to afford coverage she was hospitalized for several weeks with complications due to diabetes. She is now faced with exorbitant medical bills. With the public option there would be standardized levels of care for all insurance plans and thanks to subsidies people like Beverly would be able to afford the coverage they need to stay healthy.
And then, Rep. Tonko took the stage:
The rally was pro-reform, not a protester in sight. Check out the video:
And these kinds of things happen all over America every day. But this is what Congress is hearing, and it remains the truth: America is for health care reform, real health care reform with a real public health insurance option, and we're going to get it.
Dear All:
Thank you for the work you are doing to improve health care in the USA.
I have enjoyed the ad on health care showibg a man with his feet on a table etc. In the future maybe you could add the information about Congressional health care that no one seems to speak about. The congreemen who say they do not want goverment health care because "They don't want a bureaucrat coming between them and their Doctor".
The National Taxpayers Union web site (ntu.org)/congressional perks states that the health care members of Congress have is 70% subsidized by the American taxpayer.That to me is goverment funded health care.By the way Senator McCain has had Goverment health care all his life(Navy)Senate). Thank you
Health Care for America - NEVER! You bet there is a lot of misinformation–and it's coming from the mouths of liberals and wimps in Washington who won't stand for the truth–why do you think the "plan" has changed so much since inception? Why do you think Obama can't stick to it 2 days in a row–we're outraged! This is one step closer to socialism–we can't even fund medicare and social security; we can't even run the post office; we can't even run the VA effectively–what makes YOU think the government (that I love, by the way)should run health care????
I have a Master's degree Psychology and no health insurance! I heard the complaint that people do not want to work and they want something for nothing. I have worked all my life and rasie my children in a single parent home. I returned to school to several years ago, so that I can have a better quality of life.
That quality of life have cause me to have high blood pressure and out of control sugar levels. For the last 2 1/2 years I have been without insurance. I have had the worst service through clinic that suppose to look out for my care because of the lack of insurance.
I congress men and women have the best insurance our money can buy and some of them have the nerve to say they are against public opitions for those who cannot afford insurance. I will rally, protest and march against those who donot look out for the poor in this country. I have worked all my life and deserve quality healthcare! Yes one of these day maybe my degree will pay off and I can share the wealth until then I protest for those who don't have a voice.
In 2007 the number of uninsured was around 47 million. Since then the unemployment has undoubtedly risen.
Observe how Joe Scarborough from Morning Joe is incapable of responding Congressman Weiner's question about what value insurance companies serve.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/464837/joe_scarborough_is_shocked_yet_awed_by_single_payer_logic
There is a problem in the United States when American's fear leaving their jobs for fear of losing their health insurance.
There is a problem when American's premiums are going up, as corporate profits and insurance companies refuse to cover people who make their payments.
There is a problem in the United State when we are THE wealthiest nation in the world who cannot provide basic care for all it's citizens.
There is a problem with Nanook whose response to health for Americans is…"never."
The private sector will answer for the 18000 who died each year for lack of health care. The CEO's will pay for those of us who suffered bankruptcy due to medical bills. The lobbyists will always be there to collect unimaginative zombies like Nanook to continue feeding billions of dollars of profit for the top 1 per cent.
Let the slaves work the field, but we shall break our chains.
I just don't understand how people seeking health insurance, believe that they have a right to hurt others, in order to obtain it.
Debra J.M. Smith
???
Hurt others? Care to elaborate?
The health insurance company's are doing their best to kill this reform effort and the sad part is our national media is not even reporting on it. All the senators and congressmen that are opposing health care reform are all corrupt and in the pockets of insurance lobbyist. ALL you have to do is to follow the money trail.
The whole notion of government takeover of health insurance is just absurd. I mean our health care system is broken and what has the private insurance company's done to fix it so far. NOTHING. Its just propaganda by special interests to keep the status quo going.
I just lost my job and don't have any health insurance. There are no affordable options.