Action Alert!
Health Reform is Alive and Kicking — But Your Voice is Needed!
Call Congress NOW! 1-877-264-4226
Though media reports may not yet have made it clear across the nation, the word in Washington DC is that the President and leaders of both chambers of Congress are solidly committed to doing what it takes to move health care reform across the finish line. They agree that failure to deliver comprehensive health reform is not an option, and they fully intend to seize this historic opportunity to move our country ahead. The notions of scaling back health reform or trying to instead pass bits and pieces of legislation have been quickly discarded as both ineffective and unnecessary.
The most likely path to passage is a two-step process in which the House would adopt the Senate’s bill, and another bill would be passed by both chambers which would modify the Senate version to include compromises negotiated between the two chambers. Working out the exact timeline and process is our elected officials’ job; our job is to help keep them on track and hold them accountable:
- Make sure our friends, neighbors and communities know that there is still a strong commitment to pass health reform,
- Let members of Congress know that their constituents want and expect them to move forward with comprehensive reform, and
- Educate our communities about the positive benefits of reform.
What to do right now? Call Congress! 1-877-264-4226
We need every U.S. Representative from Texas who voted for the House’s reform bill to again commit to passing reform. They need to hear from Texans that we want reform and we will stand behind them. They are still hearing from the tea party contingent, and we must make our voices heard, too!
Texans Voting YES on Health Reform:
- Henry Cuellar, 28th District (Laredo, McAllen, Seguin)
- Lloyd Doggett, 25th District (Austin, San Marcos)
- Charlie A Gonzalez, 20th District (San Antonio)
- Al Green, 9th District (Houston)
- Gene Green, 29th District (Houston, Baytown)
- Rubén Hinojosa, 15th District (Harlingen, McAllen)
- Sheila Jackson Lee, 18th District (Houston)
- Eddie Bernice Johnson, 30th District (Dallas)
- Solomon P Ortiz, 27th District (Brownsville, Corpus Christi)
- Silvestre Reyes, 16th District (El Paso)
- Ciro Rodriguez, 23rd District (San Antonio, Uvalde)
Voting No:
- Chet Edwards, 17th District (Waco, Bryan/College Station)
- all Republican members from Texas
If your own Representative voted “No” on health reform, please call another Texas Congressperson and urge them to vote yes!
Call toll-free 1-877-264-4226
Here is a suggested script for your calls to U.S Representatives:
I am calling today to urge Congressman/Congresswoman _________ to get the job done and pass comprehensive national health reform as soon as possible!
This is the most important part of your message! If you want to say more:
- Thank you for your hard work writing the House’s strong bill.
- Please fight for “fixes” to the Senate bill, but I understand that there are limits to what is possible.
- The Senate bill plus House improvements will help millions of uninsured Texans gain affordable coverage, and help millions more keep the coverage they have today.
- I pledge to support the Congresswoman(/man) them for her(/his) championship of health reform.
Next: Make an Appointment!
The February Congressional recess is February 15-19, and this is a great opportunity to meet with your member of Congress at home in their district. Call your member’s district office today to make an appointment to talk about how important health reform is to you. In the coming week, Texas Voice for Health Reform will send you talking points, scripts and background materials you can use when meeting with your Congressperson and talking to your congregations and communities.
Don’t know who represents you? Visit www.house.gov to find out who represents you and the phone number for their district office.
Don’t Let These So-called Grass Roots Groups Against Health Care Reform fueled by Health Insurance Companies and Fear Mongers Fool You!
We Need Health Care Reform!!!!
We provide health insurance thru the Texas Health Risk Pool for our single,unemployed 27 yr. old son who has health problems and have done so since he graduated from college. I am 58 yrs. old and unemployed and my 61 yr.old husband became unemployed almost two years ago and only could find a company willing to hire him part-time at a low hourly rate and night shift hours even though he had 32 years of management/sales experience. Luckily, his employer is a large company that provides health insurance for the two of us. I became unemployed almost two years ago, have had health issues since and have not found a job. Texas Health Risk Pool determines premiums one pays by zip codes of all things. Our son lives with us in our zip code – he is not the homeowner. We were told that the State of Texas REQUIRES BCBS to increase rates twice a year and does so per three times the national average as required by the state. We pay almost $500.00 a month with a $2500.00 deductible. Our son is only allowed 6 doctor visits for the entire year with a co-pay, each visit is a $30.00 co-pay. After those are used then he(we pay)has to pay full charges for visits until his deductible is met. It is very costly. We also have seen how patients are treated if they don’t have insurance or limited funds to pay. Doctors/hospitals don’t give the same care to patients in E.R. treatments or in treatment/diagnosis testing to find causes of illness or injury like they do those with insurance or ample money to outright pay for care. Don’t believe for a moment that there is equality in the care one receives. We know! And to add insult to injury, if you can’t pay the bill or slow pay the bill – they report it to the credit bureau which can either end up making one pay higher finance rates on loans and can even jeopardize becoming employed since companies now use credit scores too in the hiring process. At our age, health insurance costs for our son alone is going to break us in our old age but we don’t dare drop coverage for him since, as it stands now, he would never be able to get coverage again for his pre-existing conditions at a future date or coverage period. We also try to pay his medical bills, however long it takes to do so, so it will not damage his credit score per his future hopes of finding employment. We truly fear for the future of our only child, our son. By the way, we voted Republican most – not all but most of the time in elections. Politicians should unite for a change to do something beneficial for the people of the United States instead of Big Bucks Health Corporate America. It’s about the People – not the Party!
The majority of Americans are against this bill. I work in the medical industry and do not know of one hospital or medical supplier who supports this bill. If anyone believes that this bill will improve healthcare, reduce the deficit, or help this country, look to Europe…many countries have a high cost of living, high taxes, and a slow growth rate…and a high debt burden…
This is just another government entitlement program that puts more power in the hands of government, adds over 100 government agencies to administer the program, and will add a tremendous burden to fund Medicaid at the state level. It’s a jobs killer…Caterpillar released an article in the WSJ stating that the bill would add $100M to its cost in the first year alone.
Furthermore, mandating individuals to purchase insurance is unconstitutional which is why my many states are in the process of passing legislation to make buying health insurance an option and not a requirement.
The long term negative financial implications of this bill are tremendous.
Kill the bill!