Tips for the Oct. 7th National Day of Health Care Action

Nothing communicates better to a member of Congress than a personal, handwritten letter from a constituent. A short letter is fine. A few tips:

• If possible, share a short personal story—or make a personal statement— about how the broken health care system or bad insurance company practices have personally affected you, a family member or close friend. Mention that you are counting on your member of Congress to represent you and so many others who want and need reform.

• Sign your letter and include your address.

Here are some facts and statements for you to choose from in writing your letter:

• Health care reform is urgent. We need action now. Costs are soaring but we receive less care. Even families with insurance are facing bankruptcy because of medical costs.

• While health insurance premiums rose four times faster than wages, insurance CEOs took home $690 million from 2000–2008. That’s just wrong. We have to hold insurance companies accountable.

• A public insurance plan option is the best way to lower costs—it will ensure real competition, keep private insurance companies honest (that’s why insurance companies oppose it) and guarantee that everybody can get health coverage.

• Employers should be asked to pay their fair share by providing insurance for their employees or paying a fee when they don’t.

• We should not force working people to pay more for the insurance they already have in the form of increased taxes on our health benefits.

• We need to reform insurance company practices that harm patients, such as denying claims; raising premiums, co-pays and deductibles whenever they choose; making health care decisions instead of letting doctors make them together with patients; and denying care because of pre-existing conditions.

• Congress has to side with working families, not insurance companies.

Calling Congress now about health care reform is also important—and it’s easy. When you reach the  congressional office:

1.  Tell the person (or voicemail system) who answers the phone your name and where you live. 

2. Say a few words about why health care reform is critical for you and your family personally.

3. Use some of the points below to make your case.

4. Ask if you can count on the member’s support for health care reform that includes a strong public health insurance option.  And make it clear that you expect them to.

5. Thank the person for conveying your message.

You’ll have less time to go into detail over the phone, so choose one or two short points to make:

• Health care reform is urgent and we need it now. I want Congress to side with working families, not insurance companies.

• I support health care reform that controls costs, covers everyone, holds insurance companies accountable, includes a public health insurance plan option, requires employers to pay their fair share and rejects new taxes that would hurt working families.

• A public insurance plan option is the best way to lower costs—it will ensure real competition, keep private insurance companies honest and guarantee that everybody can get health coverage.

• We should not force working people to pay more for the insurance they already have in the form of increased taxes. Working families are struggling already.

• It’s time to rein in insurance companies so they can’t deny coverage or raise costs whenever they choose. People and their doctors should make health care decisions—not insurance companies.

The phone number to call from anywhere in the state is:

877-323-5246

Your local Service Area Organizer is collecting letters for personal delivery to your Congressional Branch Office:

Service Area 1:  Milwaukee/SE WI
        Organizer:  Justin Geiger
        E-mail:     jgeiger@wisaflcio.org
        Cell:    (414) 745-4177         Office:  (414) 476-2896
        Address:  C/O Wisconsin AFL-CIO., Milwaukee, WI  53213
Counties: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha

Service Area 2:  Madison/South Central WI (and Central WI Pilot ALF)
        Organizer:  Jim Giedd
        Email:    jgiedd@wisaflcio.org
        Cell:    (920) 210-5064          Office:  (608) 256-5111
        Address:  C/O South Central Fed. of Labor, 1602 S. Park St., #228, Madison, WI              53715
Counties:  Adams, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Lafayette, Marathon, Marquette, Portage, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Waushara, Wood
   
Service Area 3:  Western WI
        Organizer:  Andy Thompson
        E-mail:  athompson@wisaflcio.org
        Cell:  (715) 456-4113          Office:  (715) 831-3353
        Address:  AFL-CIO, 2233 Birch St., Eau Claire, WI  54703
Counties:  Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford,  Dunn, Eau Claire, Iron, Jackson, LaCrosse, Lincoln, Monroe, Oneida, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Washburn
   
Service Area 4:  Green Bay/Fox Valley/NE WI (and Northeast WI Pilot ALF)
        Organizer:  Greg Hinds
        E-mail:  ghinds@wisaflcio.org   
        Cell:    (920) 540-2309        Office:  (920) 445-0049
        Address:  AFL-CIO, 1570 Elizabeth St., #5, Green Bay, WI  54302
Counties:  Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menomonee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Winnebago

MN Service Area Agreement:  Douglas County
        Organizer:  Chad McKenna
        E-mail:  chad@nealc.org
        Cell:  218-310-8412         Office:  (218) 728-1257
        Address:  Northeast Area Labor Council, 2002 London Rd., #100, Duluth, MN 55812