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South Floridians Help Shape National
Health Insurance Legislation
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August 11, 2008
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(Davie, FL) -- For several months now, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) has been meeting with leaders in the health care arena, including members of state and local health organizations, to address the needs and issues facing people living without health insurance, as well as those who are underinsured, in the United States. The Congresswoman’s group meets periodically, but most recently gathered to discuss the Healthy Americans Act (H.R. 6444). The Healthy Americans Act, sponsored by Rep. Wasserman Schultz in the House, guarantees universal, private health insurance for ALL Americans. The group was joined by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, the Senate sponsor of the Healthy Americans Act.
“Under the current health care system in the United States, we turn our back on millions of people who don't have health insurance and as a result, people die,” Rep. Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) said. “This landmark legislation guarantees affordable, private health care for all Americans and now includes expanded employer and employee choices.”
The Healthy Americans Act will also assist families who are under insured. Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and Sen. Wyden had the chance to speak with Jean Bradley-Brooks, a local mother who along with two of her three children, face medical problems every day. The family pays around $20,000 a year out- of-pocket for medical expenses, yet only brings in $52,000 annually.
“Every day my husband and I are forced to make the decision whether to pay our bills or keep our kids healthy,” says local resident Jean Bradley-Brooks. “We hope this new universal plan will provide our children the help they need.”
Today there are more than 46 million Americans living without health care in this country.
“The health care system in the United States is in crisis. We can and must do better,” says Monica Russo, President of SEIU Healthcare Florida. “That’s why we are grateful to Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for her leadership in bringing the diverse stakeholders to the table to begin to develop a blueprint that moves us towards a health care system that prioritizes quality care for all.”
The Healthy Americans Act promotes personal responsibility and preventative medicine and reforms the insurance market so that insurers are forces to compete on price, benefits and quality. Organizations locally have played a vital role working with uninsured people.
“Our experience is providing medical services to the insured but more importantly the uninsured, says Rosalyn Frazier, CEO of Broward Community and Family Health Centers says. “We can be intricate in the success of the universal plan,” Rosalyn Frazier, CEO of Broward Community and Family Health Centers says.
To find out how the Healthy Americans Act works, CLICK HERE.
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