160 likes | 261 Views
Making the Case for Health Insurance Reform. The Nurses’ Perspective. ANA: On the Frontlines of Health Insurance Reform. In Nurses’ Own Words….
E N D
Making the Case for Health Insurance Reform The Nurses’ Perspective
In Nurses’ Own Words… “It is incomprehensible to me that in the United States there are two standards of care – one for those with comprehensive health insurance coverage, and another for those who are under insured or lack insurance.” – Keisha Walker, RN, MSN Senior Research Nurse, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
In Nurses’ Own Words… “I have patients every day who must decide whether to purchase medications or eat.” -- Linda McIntosh, RN, MSN, APN Family Nurse Practitioner, Des Arc, AR
ANA’s Belief Quality, affordable health care is not a privilege, but a basic human right.
Goals of Health Insurance Reform • Bring Stability and Improved Care to Americans by offering new consumer protections • Reduce Costs to make health care affordable • Protect a Patient’s Choice of Providers, hospitals and insurance plans • Assure Quality, Affordable Health Care for all patients
Today’s Current System • Under current system, around half of all Americans under 65 will lose their health coverage at some point over the next ten years.** • In the last 12 months, six million more Americans lost their health insurance. * • Harvard researchers found that 62% of all U.S. personal bankruptcies were caused by health problems – 78% of those had insurance.
Top Reasons to Support Health Care Reform • Ends Discrimination for Pre-existing Conditions • Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-pays • Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care • Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill.
Top Reasons for Health Care Reform (con’td.) • Ends Gender Discrimination. • Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage • Extends Coverage for Young Adults • Guarantees Insurance Renewal.
Why ANA Supports Public Plan Option • Broader choice for patients • Increase affordability • Foster marketplace competition • Ensure access to services.
Health Insurance Reform and Nursing Workforce: Coverage does not equal access. The supply of nurses must be sufficient in order for health insurance reform to be successful.
Take Action Now! • www.RNaction.org /healthcare • Join ANA’s Health Care Reform Team • Share Your Story • Write Your Member of Congress • Health Care Reform Toolkit • Myth vs. Fact of HCR Legislation • Reasons to Support HCR • Status of HCR Legislation in Congress
Take Action Now! • Media Outreach: Make your voices heard -- Visit ANA*Net for health care reform press release template, pitch letter and media tips. • Contact ANA’s CMA Media Relations Helpdesk at (301) 628-5038 for help.
Nurses Make A Difference… “Do your part -- nurses, you guys have a lot of credibility; you touch a lot of people's lives; people trust you -- if you're out there saying it's time for us to act…America will finally join the ranks of every other advanced nation by providing quality, affordable health insurance to all of its citizens.” -- President BarackObama , addressing nurses after being introduced by ANA’s President Patton, September 10, 2009