Hillary's email on health care reform

[proud2BlibKansan]

Dear Friend,

Republicans are nothing if not consistent in putting their special-interest friends first.

Today, the Washington Post revealed a back-room deal by Republicans to preserve a loophole in Medicare payment policies that allows insurance companies to receive excess payments from Medicare – to the tune of $22 billion.

You read that correctly.

The Senate tried to act to save Medicare $26 billion in payments to insurance companies. But, in the Republican-controlled conference committee – where both Democrats and the public were shut out – lobbyists for the insurance companies successfully eliminated all but $4 billion of the savings.

Even a prominent Republican health care lobbyist, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “I have worked many bills, and this was the most closed I've ever seen.”

Once again, Republicans and their campaign contributors win, and the American people lose.

I am not going to stand for it.

Just because Republicans have the audacity to hand over $22 billion in Medicare payments to their lobbyist friends while cutting Medicaid for children and seniors – that doesn't mean we have to take it.

Rep. John Dingell of Michigan and I will introduce legislation to close, once-and-for-all, the loophole allowing insurance companies to bilk Medicare. We will use the savings to restore funding to children's health care and Medicaid slashed by Republicans.

I know how fundamental this issue is to New Yorkers and to Americans everywhere. In fact, before the Washington Post story broke, I had hoped to write you with one simple update today: the first day that I asked you to your share your health care stories with me, over 1,000 of you responded.

That's no fluke. It shows how many Americans are suffering as they have to make terrible choices. Bills they can't pay, insurance they can't afford, pain they can't get treated. It's simply wrong, and I'm going to make sure that all Americans and their representatives know just how wrong it is.

If you haven't shared your health care story with me yet – about how it is impacting you and your family – please do so today. Many of your stories will be posted on HillaryClinton.com, and others will be shared at roundtable discussions going forward.

Please use this link to send your story:

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/healthcarestories/

We are united in our determination to stop George Bush from doing with health care what he tried to do with Social Security. We will find real solutions for Americans – not more Republican corporate giveaways under the guise of helping people.

This is a national crisis and a moral failing. And, together, we will turn it around. Please stay tuned for our next steps as we chart a better course to provide health care for all Americans. In the meantime, please send me your health care story by using this link.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/healthcarestories/

Thanks for your friendship and for all you do.

Sincerely,

Hillary

Hillary Rodham Clinton

P.S. To read the Washington Post article on the secret GOP sessions with insurance lobbyists, use this link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR2006012301700.html

[Warpy]

1. Outrage like this from a woman whose own healthcare plan

left Big Insurance in charge and gave them more ways to DENY CARE rings a bit hollow to me.

[DaveinMD]

2. that just isn't true

the Clinton Health plan was complicated. But it mandated a standard benefit package and would not have allowed health insurance companies to deny care. It offered universal coverage for every American. Don't let your hate of Hillary fill your head with misstatements.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Her plan was certainly better than what we have now - NO PLAN

and drug companies writing the medicare regs.

[A Simple Game]

5. Her plan was at least a foot in the door.

We could have built on it later.

They know once we have a national health plan, they can never take it away.

[PWRinNY]

4. I'm glad to see her working on this

Seriously, I'm really glad she's fighting for us on this. My parents are getting on in years, and they need so many prescriptions, it's scary. I'm worried about them. They don't have much money, on my stepfather's retirement income, and their prescriptions have gone up outrageously in price over the last couple of years - I mean by hundreds every month. What's going to happen to them if they can't take their medicines that keep them, well, you know, ALIVE, without starving to death? What happens if I lose my job and can't help them financially? I'm RELIEVED to have Sen. Clinton working for my family, and grateful for all she's doing for us here in NY.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. My family has the opposite problem

My mom has money. Not a lot but enough to keep Medicare from paying for her nursing home care. She had a career and worked hard and invested her money and now has to spend over $60,000 a year to be taken care of in a nursing home. As soon as her own money is gone, then Medicare will pay the bill for the nursing home. Most of her health care expenses are out of pocket too. And at the rate health care costs are rising, she will be broke in a few years.