Please join me in answering President Obama's call. Contact your members of Congress to pass meaningful health care reform today!
We've watched the debate over health insurance reform get off-track thanks to special interests that benefit from the broken insurance system we have now. Last night, President Obama set the record straight on distortions being spread by opponents of health care reform, who simply want to "kick the can further down the road" and delay reform.
Much of the debate has focused on the public option. Last night, the President said this about the public option:
But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Let me be clear -- it would only be an option for those who don't have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up.
Despite all this, the insurance companies and their allies don't like this idea. They argue that these private companies can't fairly compete with the government. And they'd be right if taxpayers were subsidizing this public insurance option. But they won't be. I have insisted that like any private insurance company, the public insurance option would have to be self-sufficient and rely on the premiums it collects.
I support the President's plan to include the public option as a tool help reform our broken health care system.
But above all, any reform must be done in a deficit-neutral way and must provide choice, stability and security for those who have insurance. We must see to it that insurance companies can't ever break their promises to consumers or drop their coverage unexpectedly -- especially not when they're sick.
Please contact your members of Congress today. Urge them to pass health care reform, including a public option, today!
http://www.markudall.com/page/...
President Obama's speech ushered in a new phase of the debate. Our economy and the health of hardworking Coloradans can't wait. The time to act is now.
Thank you,
Mark Udall
U.S. Senator
