Senator Burris, Rep. Rush and Rep. Lipinski Sign on

Washington, DC - On Thursday June 25, 2009, Health Care for America Now (HCAN) - the nation’s largest health care campaign - held a large-scale rally at Upper Senate Park in Washington, DC and conducted the largest health care lobby day ever with more than 300 visits to Congressional offices on the Hill.  17 leaders from Illinois joined 15,000 health care leaders from across the country to lobby their congressional members and make sure the media knows exactly what we expect from health care reform.

Actress Edie Falco, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ),Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, Labor and Community leaders, doctors, nurses, and everyday people with health care stories addressed a crowd of 15,000 who traveled to the nation’s capital from across the country to demand quality, affordable health care for all in 2009.

[Chicago, IL] On May 22^nd, Health Care for America Now will release a new report showing how a lack of real competition in the Illinois health insurance marketplace is causing skyrocketing premiums for both patients and employers.

The report shows how a handful of private health insurance companies have built a near-monopoly in the Illinois market, burdening families and businesses with premiums that grew 5.6 times faster than wages from 2000 to 2007.  Illinois’ two largest health insurers control 67% share of the market. Under a competition rating system used by the U.S. Justice Department, the Illinois market is “concentrated.” The local markets are even worse for Rockford (82%), Bloomington-Normal (87%), and Champaign-Urbana (83%) where the US Justice Department considers these local markets “highly concentrated.”

Yesterday, members of the Senate Finance Committee discussed the use of a “trigger” for the implementation of the Public Health Insurance Option.  They are strongly considering the idea that a public health insurance plan would trigger if competition proves inadequate in a geographical region.  It is clear that it is time to pull the trigger and create real competition in Illinois.

Follow link to full report:

http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/new_report_private_insurers_consolidate_and_control_prices

Follow link to press coverage on report:

Lake County Journal

WBBM Radio

Peoria, IL - Health Care for America Now, Illinois Main Street Alliance, Citizen Action/Illinois and 150 community members rallied on May 2^nd to call for real health care reform in 2009. The event was one of 100 taking place in 42 states nationwide. Those gathered called for quality, affordable, and accessible health care for all in 2009. They demanded the choice of keeping your private insurance or enrolling in a strong public health insurance option.

“President Obama made an unwavering commitment to health care reform this year, and the people of Illinois want Congress to support the President and do what it takes to pass quality, affordable health care for all in 2009,” said William McNary, Director of Citizen Action/Illinois.

Despite the fact that everyday 700 people lose their health insurance in Illinois, Peoria Rep. Aaron Schock has voted against expanding the children’s health insurance program (SCHIP), legislation that his predecessor, Ray LaHood, supported.

Caucuses Unite Behind Public Health Insurance Plan Option

(Washington DC) – In an unprecedented initiative, the leaders of four prominent groups in the 111th Congress – the Progressive Caucus (CPC), the Black Caucus (CBC), the Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) – have sent a joint letters to President Obama  and the Democratic Leadership of the House and Senate stressing that ‘our support for enacting legislation this year to guarantee affordable health care for all firmly hinges on the inclusion of a robust public health insurance plan like Medicare.’

120 DAYS LEFT TO WIN!!!

HCAN is 866 member organizations representing 30 million

HCAN has signed on 186 members of Congress

HCAN-IL signed on President Obama, Chief of Staff  Emanuel, and 7 Members of Congress.

What are we missing?  YOU!!!

HCAN: Health Care for America Now

IMSA: Illinois Main Street Alliance (www.mainstreetalliance.org)

First stops: Reps Kirk, Bean and Schock

On April 18^th, 10 HCAN-IL leaders bird-dogged Congress member Bean at her town hall meeting to push for support of President Obama’s health care reform plan; she stated she couldn’t commit.

On April 25^th, 17 HCAN leaders showed up at Congressman Kirk’s Town Hall to challenge him publicly on his position against health care reform.

Leaders lined the room with signs, while 6 leaders waited in the front row with questions.  Elliot Hartstein, Mayor of Buffalo Grove, showed up to champion our cause and kicked off the questions.  By the end of the meeting, we learned that Congressman Kirk:

• Is crafting a moderate GOP health care bill that guaranteeing that “nothing will interfere with decisions that you and your doctor have made…guarding Americans against government rationing”.
• Continues to misrepresent the Obama / HCAN plan as “FORCING YOU INTO A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM” (The Obama / HCAN plan allows you to keep the insurance you have now OR join a public health insurance plan).
• Sees Tort reform, reducing obesity, and reducing smoking as the solution to spiking health care costs.
• Admitted that health care is the only legislation guaranteed to move this year (as part of reconciliation).

HCAN-IL leaders will continue to challenge Congressional members to support health care reform or state publicly why they do not support reform.  WE NEED YOU TO HELP US KEEP THE HEAT ON OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS.

On May 2^nd, hundreds of HCAN-IL leaders will gather in Peoria Illinois at Congressman Schock’s office to push his support for health care reform.  JOIN US!!!

No position on health care reform:

US Rep. Rush, Rep. Lipinski, Rep. Quigley, Rep. Roskam, Rep. Bean, Rep. Kirk, Rep. Costello, Rep. Biggert, Rep. Foster, Rep. Johnson, Rep. Manzullo, Rep. Schock, Rep. Shimkus.

David Borris of Hel’s Kitchen Catering Northbrook testifies before House Ways and Means committee on health care reform

LINK TO VIDEO OF DAVID BORRIS TESTIMONY

Washington D.C.—Area small business owner David Borris appeared before the House Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday, April 22.  As the only small business owner on the panel, Mr. Borris spoke on the difficulties small businesses face in today’s health insurance market. Mr. Borris described the situation that small businesses confront when they attempt to offer health benefits to their employees. His experience dealing with pre-existing conditions, small group sizes, and discriminatory insurance practices is typical of the small group market.

When announcing Tuesday’s hearing, Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee Charlie Rangel said, “America’s health insurance market is dysfunctional. This is evident by the 87 million people who went without health insurance during the past two years and the millions more who have insurance that is increasingly unaffordable or inadequate.  I am pleased to hold this hearing to examine the problems in our health insurance market and explore long-term solutions for reform.”

550 PEOPLE RALLY FOR REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM

On Arpil 18th, over 500 people joined US Representative Schakowsky, SEIU  President Balanoff, State Representative Harris, State Representative Ryg, State Representative Hamos, and State Representative Lang in calling for real health care reform for all in 2009.

Buses from Northbrook, Elgin, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Skokie, and the Southside of Chicago dropped off chanting and singing community members ready to fight for real health care reform.  Medical students showed up in their white coats to give testimony on the future of health care.  Brothers and sisters from the Single-Payer coalition also joined in by demanding we keep fighting for HR676 (the single-payer bill).  Music filled the hall  in between dramatic speeches from our elected officials and piercing testimonies from community members from across the region.

People left the meeting carrying house party kits, post cards to send, and a new sense of power and hope.  550 people said “yes” when asked if they will go back to their neighborhoods to build groups dedicated to pressuring their congress member.  They said “yes” to making this the summer of real health care reform.  Most importantly, they said “yes” to holding their congressional member’s feet to the fire.

It’s not too late to get on the train!!!  Give us a call, and we can hook you into a local HCAN team in your area.

Immediate next steps:

• David Borris (Small Business owner): Testimony in front of US House Ways and Means Committee: 9:00 AM Wednesday (April 22nd).
• June 25th NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON: 20,000 HCAN leaders will meet in Washington to rally and lobby.  Details to follow.
• Call to Action Evaluation meeting:  Details to follow.

We can’t trust the insurance industry with health care reform.  We need reform that guarantees:

• Comprehensive Benefits You Can Count On
• Choice of Private or Public Health Insurance Plan
• Coverage You Can Afford
• Equal Access to Quality Care

For more information:

312.427.2114 ext. 206(Jessica) or ext. 208 (John)   ●   jessica@citizenaction-il.org ●    www.hcanil.org