Health Care for America Now
Overview
Health Care for America Now is a national grassroots campaign organizing millions of Americans to win a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all. ICAN is the Iowa state affiliate of the campaign.
The rising costs of health care services and insurance coverage are taking its toll on family budgets, businesses, and public programs. The cost of health care and health insurance is a major component of the economic fears concerning the public, along with the price of gas, housing, and other aspects of family budgets. The financial burden resulting from these growing costs are leading many to defer care, as families choose between food and health care, and contributing to increases in the uninsured. As Congress moves forward to address the growing uninsured population and the impact of rising health care costs on America's families, promoting improved access to affordable health care and adequate health coverage for all Americans will be an important but challenging objective.
Additionally, given the current economic climate, it is vitally important that Congress not sacrifice quality. The only way to achieve savings and reduce the level and rate of increases in the future is with comprehensive reform that provides coverage to everyone. Health reform legislation must include at least the same benefits as members of Congress get, including a wide choice of doctors.
HCAN supports health care coverage with out-of-pocket costs including premiums, co-pays and deductibles that are based on a family's ability to pay for health care, without limits on payments for covered services and a standard for health benefits that covers what people need to keep healthy and to be treated when they are ill. Health care benefits should cover all necessary care, including preventative services and treatment needed by those with serious and chronic conditions.
HCAN is asking every Member of Congress to support the H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which includes:
Affordability
- Out-of-pocket cap protections to limit what individuals and families pay
- Subsidies to assist lower- and middle-income individuals and families with paying for health care costs
- Cost-sharing protections designed to foster prevention, primary care and effective treatment of chronic conditions and no cost-sharing for preventive care services
Benefits
- A federally-established comprehensive benefit package that sets a defined coverage floor for public and private health insurance plan options in all markets
- A broad scope of coverage that will ensure sufficient and affordable care without annual or lifetime limits
- Incentives to encourage healthy lifestyles and habits, including programs such as smoking cessation and weight management
Updates
September 23rd, 6 Major Provisions of the Affordable Care Act Kick In
As of September 23rd six major provisions of the Affordable Care Act kick in including, consumer protections that end the worst of insurance company abuses. The new law puts an end to odious practices like dropping people because they got sick, putting annual and lifetime limits on how much coverage you can get from the insurance policy you rightly thought covered everything, and denying children coverage because they're sick. Read More
Small Businesses = Big Winners in Health Care Reform
Small businesses have paid the price of a broken health care system for decades, paying more for less and enduring the worst abuses in the small group and individual insurance markets. Starting September 23, these worst abuses are against the law. But that’s not all that makes small businesses big winners in health reform. Read the fact sheet: Word | PDF
Many Affordable Care Act provisions begin on September 23
The Affordable Care Act establishes important consumer protections, tax credits for small businesses and ensures the stability of Medicare. President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law March 23. It will be implemented gradually over the next four years. Provisions that take effect September 23 include:
*No more getting dropped after you get sick - Insurance companies can no longer rescind coverage after the fact
*Full access to coverage – Children under 19 can no longer be rejected from health care plans due to pre-existing conditions. New plans cannot exclude anyone from coverage for a pre-existing condition
*No more "lifetime limits" – Insurers can no longer limit the amount of coverage someone can receive over their lifetime
*Free preventive care - New health insurance plans must provide preventive services such as mammograms and immunizations
*Cutting fraud = cutting costs – Cutting fraud = cutting costs – Anti-fraud measures will save money by cutting waste and abuse
*Expanded coverage to young adults - Young adults can stay on their parents’ health plan until age 26
For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov.
Young Invincibles' "Getting Covered" for September 23rd
ICAN's national partner, HCAN, is working with the Young Invincibles, PIRG and a number of advocacy groups for campus events to educate young people about the new health care law on September 23rd. A new webpage, gettingcovered.org, helps you find resources and information about expanded coverage for young adults and their parents.
We've also updated our Health Care for America Now campaign page with a few fact sheets on how the benefits can work for you.
Join Us For a Roundtable Discussion September 21
Tuesday, September 21, 1-2p, Community Room, Ames Public Library
On September 23 many provisions of the new law that will benefit seniors, small businesses, families with children and the nation as a whole officially go into effect. We will have a presentation on how the new law affects small business, farmers, the self-employed and others followed by a discussion with staff from Senator Harkin’s office and our State Representatives
Feel Free to Invite Others Who Would Be Interested!!
For more info, contact Sue Dinsdale at 515-277-5077 x14 or sdinsdale@iowacan.org
Iowa Main Street Alliance Members Lobby in DC
While in DC our Iowa Main Street Alliance members went to the Department of the Treasury for a meeting with Gene Sperling, conducted Hill Visits with 4 Iowa Congressmen, and attended a Health Care for America Now coalition press event releasing the Medical Loss Ratio report featuring Senator Al Franken, Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey. Read More
America's graduation gift is health care for Moms, Dads AND Grads
Until now, has meant gaining a diploma but losing your health insurance for millions of young people.
Historic Health Care Reform: What We Have Won
We have worked tirelessly to pass legislation ensuring that every American has quality affordable health care. ICAN's efforts were instrumental in winning an historic victory with passage of the Affordable Health Care Act. Despite the billions of dollars spent on a misinformation campaign based on fear and greed, this historic law passed Congress and was signed into law by our President on March 23, 2010.
Central Iowans joined together to thank Representative Leonard Boswell personally for his historic vote on health care reform
Spokespersons for small business owners, older adults, senior citizens and students gathered with other Iowans at Drake University Law School to celebrate this victory and explain how the new law affects them.
Iowa Health Care For America Now And Partners Thank Congressmen For Voting To Pass Health Care Reform
With historic "Yes" vote, Representatives Boswell, Braley, and Loebsack prove they listen to Iowans and are willing to stand up for them.
Historic Health Reform Has Passed!
Last night, the House of Representatives passed comprehensive health care reform after more than a year of fierce debate. The sweeping legislation will extend coverage to 32 million Americans, curb the worst abuses of the private insurance industry, and attempt to contain spiraling health care costs.
Pro Health Care Reform Advocates Counter-protest Tea Party at Boswell's Office
ICAN staffed and promoted Organizing for America's march and counter rally at Rep. Boswell’s Des Moines office to overwhelm the meager tea party rally.
Iowa & Illinois Stand Together To Pass Health Care Reform!
With lives at stake, health care reform is a moral mandate. People are dying and are impacted daily by the status of our current health care system. Several organizations, including ICAN, got together to illustrate the impact of delaying health care reform.
Iowans Rally for Health Care Reform:
We Voted for Change. Get It Done!
Demand Congress Listen to Voters, Not the Insurance Companies. Hundreds of Iowans from all walks of life arrived at the State Capitol with one demand in common: Health Care Reforms Now! Citizen groups from Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Iowa City converged on the State Capitol to act and stand in solidarity.
Health Care Supporters Call on Iowa Reps to Finish Health Care Now and Finish It Right
Iowa Citizen Action Network, Iowa Main Street Alliance, Working Families Win, Alliance for Retired Americans and other concerned citizens as part of Health Care for America Now (HCAN) gathered at the district offices of Representatives Braley and Boswell to remind the Congressman that demand for Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform legislation as soon as possible is as strong as ever.
Industry Whistleblower Headlines Health Care Forum
Former Cigna VP Wendell Potter, health insurance story tellers and panelists spoke out about what's really going on in Washington on health care reform, told true tales of insurance company bad practices and informed about 80 attendees how current proposals solve these problems.
Iowans Thank Rep. Boswell for Health Care Vote & Urge Senator Harkin to Champion Reform in Senate
On Thursday, November 12th, local residents gathered at Simon Estes Amphitheater to thank Congressman Boswell for siding with his constituents and not the health insurance industry by voting to pass the House health care bill last Saturday night. More event video and the full story.
AFSCME and ICAN thank Congressmen Boswell in TV ad
Iowa Citizen Action Network thanks Congressmen Boswell, Braley, and Loebsack
Iowa Citizen Action Network appreciates Congressmen Boswell, Braley, and Loebsack's votes to pass the House of Representatives' Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962)
History was made Saturday night.
Never before in this country has the House of Representatives passed a comprehensive health care bill. The bill passed Saturday night will guarantee us all quality, affordable health care. It will rein in insurance company abuses. And it will give us the choice of a public health insurance option.
Support HR 3962 - the Affordable Health Care for America Act!
It's very likely that Congress will vote in the coming days on health care reform. HCAN and ICAN is asking every Member of Congress to support the H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
On the Verge
In almost a century, we've never been this close to health care reform. We must keep fighting to ensure the final result is REAL health care reform.
HCAN Healthcare Reform Press Conference & Rally in Waterloo
Dr Michael Blackwell and Sue Dinsdale of HCAN speak about Healthcare Reform at a Press Conference & Rally in Waterloo, IA. Insurance Industry Giants like United Healthcare are rationing Medical Care to patients. United Healthcare controls the market and refuses to pay Hospitals & Doctors for the services they have provided to those insured by United Healthcare.
Rally in Des Moines
About 140 people frustrated with health insurance companies, said they want lawmakers to know that they support a public option. For an hour, those at the rally shared personal stories, criticizing the role insurance companies play in health care decisions and demanded change.
HCAN rallies outside Loebsack's office in Iowa City
Dozens of members of Health Care for America Now rallied outside of Rep Loebsack's office. Betty Ahrens, ICAN's executive director released a report at a press conference that outlined the benefits of House Bill 3200, known as America's Affordable Choices Act. Most important, she said, would be the 55,000 Iowans in Loebsack's second district without insurance who would be covered under the bill.
Health care reform would help thousands of uninsured
Thirty-six thousand Iowans in the state's 1st Congressional District would get insurance coverage under a Democratic health-care proposal, according to an estimate touted Friday by local reform advocates trying to keep pressure on lawmakers. Organized by ICAN, the Iowa affiliate of Health Care for America Now, the group met to highlight a health-care-overhaul bill passed by the House's Energy and Commerce Committee. "It will finally answer the demands of so many Iowans that we've been hearing from," said Amy Logsdon, our political director.
Resources
- Fact Sheet: The "Blended Rate" Proposal Under any formula, $100 billion in Medicaid cuts will wipe out jobs, shift costs to states and threaten seniors' care | Word | PDF
- Fact Sheet: Bird-dogging on Medicaid Challenging MOC’s who voted for the Ryan budget: | Word | PDF
- Fact Sheet: Small Businesses = Big Winners in Health Care Reform | Word | PDF
- Health coverage for young adults will be expanded on September 23. Here's 3 factsheets from Young Invincibles to help young adults and their parents take advantage of this new provision:
But the Industry is trying to undercut congress and weaken this provision worth $1.9 billion to customers.
In light of all the lies, distortions, and misinformation that have been spread about health care reform in general and the House health care reform bill (H.R. 3200) in particular, Health Care for America Now (HCAN)--the nation's largest health care campaign--has created a chart to show how the health care system would really work under America's Affordable Health Choices Act.
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