Health Care Reform Will Address Concerns of CWA Members

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During CWA’s recent campaign in support of comprehensive health care reform, many CWA wrote letters to Members of Congress, sharing their concerns about the state of health care in this country. Here are some stories CWA members shared and how our new health care reform law will help them:

Veronica of Arkansas worried about her father who worked all of his life, but when he had a massive stroke, got shunted from hospital to hospital because he had no health insurance.

Now, with the health care reform legislation, Veronica’s dad will be able to get coverage through the health insurance exchanges. No one will be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition and subsidies are available to keep coverage affordable.

Janet of Virginia Beach VA is concerned about her cousin, a single dad and self-employed, who cannot afford the $400 a month the insurance company wants to charge him. So he gambles and goes without, betting and hoping that he and his daughter do not become ill or get in an accident.

Janet’s cousin will be able to get coverage for himself and his daughter through the health insurance exchanges at much lower rates because individuals and small employers will band together to create a large insurance pool and insurers will not be able to underwrite and charge more for small groups.

Pamela of Brooklyn worries about her grandmother because she finds it hard to pay her Medicare deductible and prescription costs.

The health care reform bill will directly benefit Pam’s grandmother by closing the Medicare Prescription drug “doughnut hole” over time, making prescription drugs more affordable.

Amber of San Leandro, CA, a medical assistant, worries about the patients that come through the clinic she works in — patients who don’t get their necessary maintenance check ups because they can’t afford the deductible; children who don’t get vaccinated because their parents can’t afford the cost of the shot; diabetics who worry whether they can afford their insulin.

Amber’s patients will benefit because preventive care services will be covered at 100% with no deductibles and copayments and the legislation creates programs for patients to better manage chronic illnesses, like diabetes.