Real Voices for Change: Health Care Talking Points

1. We're here to urge [SEN/REP] [NAME] to push for passage of a health care reform plan, including a real public health insurance option, as soon as Congress returns from recess. Republicans and industry lobbyists are working to delay the passage of a health care reform plan that includes a public health insurance option. That's why we need [SEN/REP][NAME] to be a strong advocate for a real public plan during this crucial time.


2. There's a real cost to inaction—we must pass health care reform with a real public health insurance option as soon as possible. Every day that we delay, 14,000 Americans lose their insurance ¹ and nearly 2,500 file for bankruptcy because of medical costs.² And costs continue to spiral out of control—average family premiums will hit $22,000 a year over the next decade.³


3. No matter what happens with our health or our jobs, a real public health insurance option will always be there for us. With hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs each month, the need for a health insurance option not tied to your employer is clearer than ever.


4. A REAL public health insurance option must be ready Right away, available to Everyone, Accountable to the public and Large enough to lower costs. We urge [SEN/REP] [NAME] to do what's best for [STATE or COMMUNITY], and the country, and pass true health care reform now that includes a real public option.


5. The "Ask".

The "Ask" for your Member of Congress

• [If your action is targeting Senator Brown, Casey, Dodd, Durbin, Gillibrand, Kennedy, Leahy, Merkley, Rockefeller, Sanders or Schumer]: We thank Senator [NAME] for leading the fight for health care reform with a real public health insurance option. With conservatives and the insurance industry doing everything they can to delay and block real health care reform, it's important that Senator [NAME] continue speaking out now to ensure that any health care legislation contains a real public health insurance option—HIS/HER leadership on this issue has been and will continue to be incredibly important. (Follow up if possible: Will Senator [NAME] commit to supporting a health care reform package ONLY if it includes a real public health insurance option?)


• [If your action is targeting Senator Boxer, Cardin, Feingold, Franken, Klobuchar, Kohl, Mikulski, Murray or Whitehouse]: We thank Senator [NAME] for supporting health care reform with a real public health insurance option—families and small businesses in [STATE] are counting on the senator. With conservatives and the insurance industry doing everything they can to delay and block real health care reform, we urge the Senator to take the next step and lead the fight to ensure that any health care legislation contains a REAL public health insurance option—one that is ready Right away, available to Everyone, Accountable to the public and Large enough to lower costs.


• [If your action is targeting any other Senator]: We urge Senator [NAME] to support health care reform with a real public health insurance option—the core part of reform we need to bring down costs for families and small businesses in [STATE]. It's important that Senator [NAME] be an advocate for a REAL public option – one that is ready Right away, available to Everyone, Accountable to the public and Large enough to lower costs.


• [If your action is targeting Representative Blumenauer, Brown, Capuano, Carson, Chu, Clarke, Clay, Cleaver, Clyburn, Conyers, Cummings, DeFazio, Delahunt, Doggett, D. Edwards, Ellison, Farr, Fattah, Filner, Frank, Fudge, G. Moore, Grijalva, Gutierrez, E. B. Johnson, H. Johnson, Hare, Hastings, Hinchey, Hirono, Holt, Honda, Hoyer, Jackson Jr., Kaptur, Kilpatrick, Kucinich, B. Lee, S. J. Lee, Maloney, Massa, McDermott, McGovern, Nadler, Napolitano, Olver, Pascrell, Payne, Pelosi, Pingree, L. Richardson, Roybal-Allard, Sanchez, Schakowsky, Serrano, Sires, Speier, Stark, Thompson, Tierney, Towns, Valezquez, Waters, Watson, Watts, Wexler or Woolsey]: We thank Representative [NAME] for leading the fight for health care reform with a real public health insurance option. With conservatives and the insurance industry doing everything they can to delay and block real health care reform, it's important that Representative [NAME] continue speaking out now to ensure that any health care legislation contains a real public health insurance option—HIS/HER leadership on this issue has been and will continue to be incredibly important.


• [If your action is targeting any other Representative]: We urge Representative [NAME] to support health care reform legislation that includes a real public health insurance option. We're counting on Representative [NAME] be an advocate for real health care reform and to oppose any amendments or compromises that would weaken or eliminate the REAL public option—one that is ready Right away, available to Everyone, Accountable to the public and Large enough to lower costs.

Additional Useful Facts, Quotes and Citations:

1. The public health insurance option is the heart of President Obama's plan for real health care reform—a high-quality, affordable plan that would be key to lowering skyrocketing health care costs and helping to provide coverage for all Americans.


2. A public option is a health plan that would be offered by the government and could be chosen in the health insurance exchange. It would give us a choice of doctors and provide high-quality care. Unlike private insurance the public health insurance plan would not have to subsidize CEO bonuses or shareholder profits, so it would cost less. And recent polling shows that 83% of Americans support having the choice of a public health insurance option⁴. But insurance companies and conservatives in Congress are trying to kill it.


3. President Obama on the public health insurance option:

   "I strongly believe that Americans should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices, make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance companies honest."

Questions and Answers

• Why is the public health insurance option so critical? It will⁵:
  
  
  • Help families and small businesses struggling in this economy. The public health insurance plan would not have to subsidize CEO bonuses or shareholder profits, so it would cost less. And the competition would cause for-profit insurers to provide better coverage at lower rates to keep up.
  
  
  • Provide a choice. The public health insurance plan will be one of a wide range of health insurance choices available to Americans.
  
  
  • Expand coverage. The public health insurance option will always be there, regardless of what happens with people's health or job. And President Obama and Congress have proposed offering subsidies to those who can't afford it, so it will be affordable.


• What are the keys to a R.E.A.L. Public Health Insurance Option? In order for a public option to help lower costs and expand coverage across America, it should meet the following criteria⁶:
  
  
  • Right away: Every day we wait on real reform, health care costs continue to rise. A strong public health insurance option right out of the gate is key. Proposals that would delay implementation for years—like the so-called trigger—would undermine the public option's potential to help control costs and provide widespread care.
  
  
  • Everyone: A strong public health insurance option should be broadly available, and a core piece of an overall reform plan that will help guarantee access to quality health care for everyone in America.
  
  
  • Accountable: To ensure it's held to the highest standards, a public health insurance option must be publicly accountable and transparent to Congress and to voters.
  
  
  • Large enough to lower costs:In order to truly control costs, a public health insurance option must be available nationwide with a broad network of providers so that it is competitive and able to bargain on a level playing field with private plans.
  
  
• How would health care reform with a real public health insurance option affect my area?

  The House Energy and Commerce committee has prepared a district-by-district analysis of how one version of proposed health care legislation will affect costs for families, small businesses and the uninsured. You can find information about your district here: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51673

• Why is MoveOn supporting the public health insurance option?

  MoveOn members have identified the goal of universal health care as the top priority in 2009 and support a strong public health insurance option as a path toward that goal. The public option is the progressive core of President Obama's health care plan and is crucial to helping lower costs for families and small business and extending coverage to all Americans.

• Why are we advocating for the public option instead of single-payer health care?
  

  MoveOn members recognize that there are many different ways of moving toward the goal of quality, affordable health care for all Americans, including both the single-payer plan and the public health insurance option. But, with the public option in danger right now, our members have clearly indicated that they want to fight hard to pass a public health insurance option this year. So, that's what we're doing!
  
  Health care reform with a real public health insurance option will give Americans a choice between a private health insurance system and a high-quality, affordable public health insurance option. It will bring down costs for families and small business and help provide all Americans with health insurance options.

Sources

1. "Health Care in Crisis: 14,000 Losing Coverage Each Day," Center for American Progress Action Fund, February 19, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51653


2. "Three Weeks in America Without Health Reform," The NOW! Blog, July 17, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51645


3. "Health Care Premiums Run Amok," Center for American Progress, July 24, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51667


4. "New Poll Shows Tremendous Support for Public Health Care Option," Blog for Our Future, June 15, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51510


5. "The Case for Public Plan Choice in National Health Reform," Institute for America's Future. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51396


6. "A co-op for the public option? Let's talk principles," The Now! Blog, June 12, 2009. http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2009/06/12/a-co-op-for-the-public-option-lets-talk-principles/