Group of 5 Ohio Congressmen need to hear from you Nov. 2 - 6 on health care reform; Final outcome to impact future bargaining

Nov. 2, 2009 - AFSCME is waging a national campaign to protect and improve our health care, and to guarantee quality, affordable coverage for all.

By 2019, 57 million Americans are expected to be uninsured, and employer spending on premiums is projected to rise by at least 72%.

Union members cannot negotiate our way out of this crisis.

Fixing the economy and effectively reining in costs means fixing health care comprehensively. Check out AFSCME's FAQ:

Union Members and Families... What's in Health Reform for You? (PDF)

The U.S. House and Senate are each considering different reform bills. They will be merged into one final proposal that will be sent to Pres. Barack Obama for his signature. The House vote is set for Saturday, Nov. 7.

That’s why AFSCME members across the nation are calling Congress again the week of Nov. 2 - 6, with special emphasis on the AFL-CIO's national call in day set for Thursday, Nov. 5.

Currently, the House bill (H.R. 3962) meets the needs of working families best. It addresses the following critical issues, which we are fighting to keep in the final legislation that gets sent to President Obama’s desk.

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 TALKING POINTS

Take a few minutes to make phone calls to U.S. Reps. Driehaus, Wilson, Kucinich, Boccieri, and Space. Remind these 5 legislators that Ohio is counting on them do their part to deliver real reform that:

• Controls costs and does NOT tax our benefits.
• Provides guaranteed coverage for all Americans.
• Includes a public health insurance option.
• Holds insurance companies accountable.
• Requires all employers to pay their fair share.

OCSEA Pres. Eddie L. Parks is asking union members and their families to call Congress the week of Nov. 2 - 6 and urge legislators to deliver a final bill that offers real health care reform.

Grab your cell phones, gather your friends, and get ready to dial 888-460-0813 to make your voice heard over insurance company lobbyists.

Remember, you'll need to dial in five times to get connected with U.S. Representatives Driehaus, Wilson, Kucinich, Boccieri, and Space. Report legislator responses to AFSCME at mgranowitter@afscme.org.

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 HIGHLIGHTS OF HR 3962

• The Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) includes the choice of a public health insurance option, providing competition for private insurance companies to lower costs and improve quality. 

• HR 3962 pays for reform the right way – by asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share, not by taxing our health benefits.  Individuals earning more than $500,000 and families with incomes above $1 million a year will have to pay a surtax under the House bill.

• The bill also requires most employers to either provide insurance coverage for their workers or pay a meaningful amount into a fund to help low- and moderate-income workers buy their own coverage through the exchange that will be established in every state.  AFSCME made sure that all employer requirements apply equally to public employers, including state and local governments.  Special rules will apply for small businesses.

• Medicaid is expanded to cover individuals up to 150% of the federal poverty level.  We continue to work to keep the state share of the cost of this expansion as low as possible.  In a significant AFSCME victory, the bill extends the economic recovery bill’s increase in the federal share of Medicaid costs for an additional 6 months, which was scheduled to expire at the end of 2010.  This will provide states with an additional $23.5 billion in 2011. 

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See Related

What's at stake? Why should OCSEA members care about the cost of health care?