Well, here it is. Probably the only mass email you'll ever see from me, ever.
But I figured this is an important one, whatever your views may be.
What follows is the email the White House sent out to those on the
whitehouse.gov mailing list, addressing concerns about health care reform.
Dear Friend,
This is probably one of the longest emails I’ve ever sent, but it could be the
most important.
Across the country we are seeing vigorous debate about health insurance reform.
Unfortunately, some of the old tactics we know so well are back — even the
viral emails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of
lies and distortions.
As President Obama said at the town hall in New Hampshire, “where we do
disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild
misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that's actually been
proposed.”
So let’s start a chain email of our own. At the end of my email, you’ll find a
lot of information about health insurance reform, distilled into 8 ways reform
provides security and stability to those with or without coverage, 8 common
myths about reform and 8 reasons we need health insurance reform now.
Right now, someone you know probably has a question about reform that could be
answered by what’s below. So what are you waiting for? Forward this email.
Thanks,
David
David Axelrod
Senior Adviser to the President
P.S. We launched www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck this week to knock down the
rumors and lies that are floating around the internet. You can find the
information below, and much more, there. For example, we've just added a video
of Nancy-Ann DeParle from our Health Reform Office tackling a viral email head
on. Check it out:
[Video removed--html code didn't translate well into this email for me for some
reason]
8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage
1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies
will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays:
Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can
charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must
fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent
illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies
will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those
who become seriously ill.
5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited
from charging you more because of your gender.
6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will
be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be
eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required
to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full.
Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became
sick.
Learn more and get details:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/
8 common myths about health insurance reform
1. Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It’s a myth that
reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing."
To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently
being used by insurance companies.
2. We can’t afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It’s a
myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has
identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting
waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big
subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as
coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help
bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.
3. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious
myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For
seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life
decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for
those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.
4. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health
insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the
contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA,
extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA
Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.
5. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It’s a myth that
health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform
will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay
for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay
much less to cover their employees on average.
6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that
Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the
contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare,
ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to
insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make
prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.
7. You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force
you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the
contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.
8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an
absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health
insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more
convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying
a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a
direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be
easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy
will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.
Learn more and get details:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq
8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now
1. Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that
12.6 million non-elderly adults – 36 percent of those who tried to purchase
health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance
market – were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition
in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously
ill. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html
2. Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are
paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance
premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages.
In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer
was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job.
Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage. Learn
more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html
3. Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women’s reproductive health requires
more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears,
mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or
poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such
as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as
likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back
or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent
treatment and follow-up care. Learn more:
http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html
4. Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are
nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past
several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality,
uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural
areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in
many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in
rural communities. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes
5. Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly
one-third of the uninsured – 13 million people – are employees of firms with
less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly
Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much
of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses
offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at
99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain
insurance through a spouse. Learn more:
http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline
6. The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at
least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may
have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare
alone. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction
7. Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of
non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66%
to 61%. An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the
age of 65 - were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the
uninsured are in working families. Learn more:
http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/diminishing/index.html
8. The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will
continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families,
businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible
sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently
without health insurance - projections suggest that this number will rise to
about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform. Learn more:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf
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