Sisters of St. Francis

Justice Advocacy

Healthcare For All – And Why it Matters to All of Us

"Our nation continues to spend more on healthcare than other countries, but millions of people receive inadequate or no care. People in low-income communities and communities of color have a much lower quality of care."
- Platform for the Common Good

I hope you are not tired of hearing about healthcare legislation, because we need everyone to do something this month to keep it moving.

Members of Congress will be in their home districts/states until Labor Day. (The House is already in recess, and the Senate will recess at the end of this week.) They will be hearing plenty from opponents of healthcare reform legislation, and we need them to hear from constituents who want healthcare reform NOW.

This is the time. This is important. If you've contacted your members of Congress before, please do it again.

If you don't think your members of Congress care about what you say, say it anyway. We can't let them say that the American people want them to slow down on healthcare reform.

If you think you don't have time to do this, think again. This is important for all of us. You have the whole month of August. Please do something.

If you think you need more information, see the links at the bottom of this message.

Here are some things you (and your groups) can do:

1. Call the local offices of your representative and senators
You can find the phone numbers by going to http://capwiz.com/networklobby/dbq/officials/ -- enter your zip code, click on 'info' under their picture, and then click on the 'contact' tab.

Ask when you can see your representative or senator - by visiting their office, attending a town hall meeting, or inviting them to meet with your community or group. Tell them why healthcare reform matters to you.

2. Get other people to send messages to Congress
Write a letter and ask others (at your church, family picnics, etc.) to sign on to the letter. Or better yet, ask people to write their own letters. Make sure they get delivered to the Congressional offices.

3. Contact the media
Write letters to the editor. Call into local radio/TV shows. Talk to reporters. Invite media people to rallies, vigils, meetings, or any other healthcare event you are participating in.

4. Call the DC offices of your representative and senators.
Call via this toll-free number: 1-888-797-8717
(thanks to the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries and the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church.) Talk to the staff in the office about why you want healthcare reform now.

5. Send e-mail
You can find a sample message at http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=13829611&type=CO

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As we work to ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable heathcare, we often think first of the problems of people who are uninsured or who live in underserved communities. But the definition of who is vulnerable within our healthcare system is expanding. Mounting crises of cost, quality and access mean that even insured people tell stories of being denied needed care, of struggling to pay co-pays or premiums, and of delaying doctor visits they cannot afford.

Mending cracks in our healthcare system will make all of us more secure. How?

Many of us are one job loss, divorce, birthday or graduation away from joining the ranks of the uninsured. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one of every three people under the age of 65 was uninsured for some period of time during 2007-2008.
Many people with insurance are not financially protected against serious illness or injury. Medical bills and debt contribute to about half of personal bankrupties and home foreclosures in the U.S. More than three in four people whose illnesses led to bankruptcy had insurance.
Healthcare costs eat into wage gains. The average worker's share of family health insurance premiums nearly doubled between 2000 and 2007.
Our healthcare system doesn't maximize quality of care and prevention. According to a Dartmouth study, our entire healthcare system spends roughly $700 billion a year that doesn't improve our health. In 2005, only half of adults in the U.S. received all recommended preventive care.
Our nation cannot afford the status quo. Healthcare spending now accounts for about one-sixth of our national economy. The rapid rise of healthcare costs is a major reason we face unsustainable budget deficits in the near future.

For more information go to NETWORK's Web site: www.networklobby.org