Blind Prophecy

So, one thing about being FUNemployed, it leads me to feeling super-responsible on matters of legislative involvement. I’m writing to my elected officials all the time these days. Calling them, too.

Some of the issues that have me writing:

• Statewide (Ohio):
  • Library Funding cuts in Ohio.
  • Equal Housing and Employment Act (urgent calls for support on this bill).
• National, contact both Representatives and Senators:
  • Employment Nondiscrimination Act (introduced today! And fully inclusive!).
  • The Ending Health Disparities for LGBT Americans Act (also introduced today!).
  • The Uniting American Families Act (addressing one of the most heartbreaking aspects of current immigration inequality of LGBT families).
  • Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009 (repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell).
• National, passed in the House, awaiting action in the Senate:
  • The Matthew Shepard Act (hate crime legislation).
• National, not yet introduced in either the House or Senate:
  • Legislation to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.
• Waiting for specific legislation, but expressing my thoughts:
  • Health Care Reform, including support for a public option and elimination of “pre-existing condition” exclusions in private insurance.
  • Student Loan programs – I support expanding the programs, but only if we can also strengthen repayment programs that take into account economic realities (i.e. loan forgiveness for public service, income-based repayment, etc.).

There are, of course, many other issues that matter to me, but these are those that have me concerned enough to take the time to contact my elected officials. I encourage you, too, to help support these bills.

It’s been fun getting replies back from my elected officials, too. For example, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown (D) wrote in response to my letter about health care reform:

Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding the state of the American health care system.

The Senate is currently examining many issues relating to health care reform. I appreciate the input I have received from you and other Ohioans on this issue.

Health care reform is desperately needed in this country. While costs mount for those with health care plans, 50 million Americans remain uninsured and millions more are underinsured. I strongly believe that our health care system is in need of reform that reduces the long-term growth of health care costs for business and government; protects families from bankruptcy or debt because of health expenditures; guarantees choice of doctors and health plans; invests in prevention and wellness; improves patient safety and quality of care; assures affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans; and ends barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

One promising solution to the problems of cost, quality, and access that plague our health care system is to increase competition in the health insurance market. If the private insurance industry was truly competitive, then there would be strong incentives to provide coverage to as many Americans as possible and to build customer loyalty through cost savings and quality improvements. Unfortunately, insurers do not truly compete against one another; instead, they make use of the same basic strategies to earn significant profits. These tactics include selectively insuring the lowest risk enrollees, slow-walking claims payments so they can earn interest on every premium dollar, and denying as many claims as possible.

What the insurance industry needs is some healthy competition from a public insurance option. This option would not replace employer-sponsored coverage; it would simply give uninsured or underinsured Americans the choice of enrolling in an insurance plan that does not engage in the same cost-avoidance tactics as private insurance plans do. The public insurance option would also be a vehicle for quality, coverage, and provider access improvements that set the bar higher for private insurance plans.

Thank you again for getting in touch with me on this matter. As work on health care reform continues in Congress, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Thank you, Senator Brown, for supporting a public insurance option!

Filed under: politics by Jere Keys