Stop Senate bill 1955 (Repuke Insurance company wet dream)

[sidwill]

This is horrible bill wrapped up in a nicely deceptive name ala the "Clear Skies" initiative.

It will strip away state mandated protections for health care consumers while guaranteeing insurance company profits.

Read more:

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/BushCare /

http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/alerts/030306.asp

http://www.sherrodbrown.com/tag/Enzi%20Bill

http://www.ppaction.org/ppmm/notice-description.tcl?new...

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business...

Please take action and contact your Senator NOW, this bill has already passed the House AND the Senate comitee and is probably going to be voted on in the next couple of weeks.

TAKE ACTION NOW!!!!

Tell Your Senators: Vote NO on the HIMMA/Enzi Bill

Lots of fact sheets etc here:
http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/private-insurance/enz ... /

S. 1955, the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act (HIMMA), was introduced by Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY) and has been approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. This legislation, if enacted, will strip away almost all state-enacted consumer protections for people buying insurance individually or through their employers.

Though the bill’s alleged purpose is to make insurance affordable for small businesses, its reach is far greater than that: States will no longer be able to mandate coverage of benefits, services, or categories of providers for individuals, small groups, or large groups. Premium rating protections, enacted by states to make small group insurance more affordable to older and sicker workers, will be set aside. Insurers will be allowed to sue states that do not comply. The bill sets a ceiling on, but no floor under, what states can do to protect insurance consumers.

Sign this petition!!!

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?OppS1955

[Gman]

1. Wonder how much Bill Fhrist stands to make off this

no doubt many more millions.

[sidwill]

2. No doubt,

but in the process alot of people are gonna get screwed.

Diabetics could be especially hit hard: http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-action-center/s1955.jsp

[sidwill]

3. Bumped for people who want

to do something the thwart these jerks.

Act now, contact your Senators and organize your friends, neighbors, and associates to oppose this horrible bill.

[sidwill]

8. Anybody, Buehler? Buehler?

Ok, lets start checking in, if you took action on this with your Senator let us know.

I e-mailed and called both Nelson and Mel Martinez.

[Craig3410]

14. So, my mother sent a copy to my senators...

She's diabetic too, so...

Dear Senator,

As a Type I diabetic citizen of our beautiful state, and the mother and sister of Type I diabetics, I beg you to vote an emphatic NO! on S. 1955.
This bill is nothing more than another way to increase the profits of major corporations (i.e. health insurance companies) while taking advantage of individual citizens, especially ones with chronic illnesses like my family has. This legislation, if enacted, will strip away almost all state-enacted consumer protections for people buying insurance individually or through their employers. Though the bill’s alleged purpose is to make insurance affordable for small businesses, its reach is far greater than that: States will no longer be able to mandate coverage of benefits, services, or categories of providers for individuals, small groups, or large groups. Premium rating protections, enacted by states to make small group insurance more affordable to older and sicker workers, will be set aside. Insurers will be allowed to sue states that do not comply. The bill sets a ceiling on, but no floor under, what states can do to protect insurance consumers.
There are literally hundreds of organizations vehemently opposed to this bill due to what havoc it will create upon the health needs of millions of Americans.
Please read this link from the National Women's Law Center about the dangers of this bill: http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/FSHIMMAbackground_04.05.06.pdf

There has got to be other options out there to provide affordable insurance options to small business. This is NOT the one. I'm so tired of our country being handed over to big business where their CEO's become billionaires at the cost of destroying the lower and middle classes of society. And this bill could literally be responsible for the DEATHS of American taxpayers who will no longer be able to get or afford their daily healthcare needs. This is a very traumatic time for our country as a whole with terrorism issues, war, and skyrocketing costs of living. Please do not allow another crisis on us by making people lose their essential rights to healthcare protection.
I beseech you to please stop this insane bill from passing.

[sidwill]

20. Amazing

I am talking to friends and family about this bill and trying to get them involved and the response is almost universal.

Basically: Wow thats bad, that sucks, thats unfair......then no action.

Truly, whoever said Democarcy was great because the people get the government they deserve, was dead on.

[OhioChick]

4. Nothing ceases to amaze me anyone

from this bunch......

[sidwill]

5. Good God.

Doesn't anybody give a rats ass about this?

Everybody on this board and their families will be directly, negatively affected by this bill---unless they own alot of insurance stock.

[caligirl]

10. I share your concern and have been posting steadily here on this.

Lots of threads are in here. My first thread was done about a month or more ago right after the ADA sent out the first alert and it got lots of attention. There are many du'ers who now know about this and have been actively spreading the news via media blasters and posting it at other sites, like MyDD has a diary for it. Don't get disheartened. This bill has gotten lots of notice here, I saw to it personally. I still do not understand why it has not been placed on the front page, but perhaps a well written letter in the next week summarizing the bill's disasterous consequences could get to the front page. Keep it up, I know I went nuts on this the first day I found out about it, my husband came home from work to check on me, I was so upset.

Also check out the ANA Governmental Affairs site, its fantastic on this bill's issues, opponents and more. Google ANA enzi bill and the site will come up.

Original thread Mar 17, by Caligirl http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2519183

How the Rs will campaign on health care "reform"--don't let it happen!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2564921
Topic started by blondeatlast on Apr-11-06 04:54 PM (6 replies)
Last modified by blondeatlast on Apr-11-06 07:09 PM

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2580449

Hidden prvision to strip patients rights to sue their insurer: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2240914

AARP opposition
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2221851
Stop Enzi bill posted by Ed Murrow
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=985611

How the R's will campaign for health care reform
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2564921

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=202113

[caligirl]

11. kick,

[Elwood P Dowd]

6. Kick

:kick:

[sidwill]

7. Seniors, diabetics, special needs kids, the disabled

All have the potential to be deemed "uninsurable" if this bill gets passed.

Come on people get active!!

[Craig3410]

12. Okay, that second word got me alert!

:scared:

[sidwill]

9. kick

If at first you don't succeed.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Thank you for posting this information. n/t

[sidwill]

15. No problem

If we can use the power of this web site to get its 80,000 or so members to be active on this issue we can stop it.

[sidwill]

16. A list of citizens groups opposing this craptacular bill

Organizations, Health Plans and State Officials Opposed to S. 1955, “The
Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act”

AARP
AFL-CIO
Academy for Eating Disorders
Alliance for Children and Families
Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness
Alliance for Justice
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of HIV Medicine
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Physician Assistants
American Anorexia/Bulimia Association of Philadelphia
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Association of Pastoral Counselors
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Association of Practicing Psychiatrists
American Cancer Society
American Chiropractic Association
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Counseling Association
American Diabetes Association
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
American Federation of Teachers
American Group Psychotherapy Association
American Nurses Association
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Optometric Association
American Pediatric Society
American Podiatric Medical Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
American Psychoanalytic Association
American Psychological Association
American Psychotherapy Association
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Anna Westin Foundation
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
Arizona Business and Professional Women
Assistive Technology Law Center
Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare
Association for the Advancement of Psychology
Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
April 12, 2006
B'nai B'rith International
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Brain Injury Association of America
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Capital District Physician’s Health Plan
Catholics for a Free Choice
Center for Eating Disorder Recovery
Center for Justice & Democracy
Center for Women Policy Studies
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyper-Activity Disorder
Citizen Action of New York
Clinical Social Work Federation
Clinical Social Work Guild 49, OPEIU
Communications Workers of America
Consumers for Affordable Health Care (Augusta, Maine)
Consumers Union
Dads and Daughters
Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Disability Rights Wisconsin
Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action
Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center
Empire Justice Center (New York)
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Family Planning Advocates of New York State
Families USA
Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights
Gail R. Schoenbach F.R.E.E.D. Foundation
Group Health Incorporated
Guttmacher Institute
Health and Disability Advocates
Helping to End Eating Disorders Foundation
HIP Health Plan of New York
Independent Health Association
Institute for Reproductive Health Access
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
International Longshore & Warehouse Union
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
International Union, United Auto Workers
Kristen Watt Foundation
Maternal and Child Health Access
Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee (Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
Michigan Association for Children with Emotional Disorders
MVP Health Plan, Inc.
April 12, 2006
NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals
NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Association for Children's Behavioral Health
National Association for Rural Mental Health
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders – ANAD
National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors
National Association of Mental Health Planning & Advisory Councils
National Association of Social Workers
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
National Council on Independent Living
National Disability Rights Network
National Eating Disorders Association
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
National Health Council
National Health Law Program
National Hemophilia Foundation
National Mental Health Association
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Research Center for Women & Families
National Spinal Cord Injury Association
National Women’s Health Network
National Women's Law Center
New York Civil Liberties Union Reproductive Rights Project
Northwest Women's Law Center
Pediatrix Medical Group
Pennsylvania Educational Network for Eating Disorders
Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Public Citizen
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Remuda Ranch
Renfrew Center Foundation
Small Business Majority
Society for Pediatric Research
Suicide Prevention Action Network USA
Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc.
The Arc of the United States
The Elisa Project
The Institute for Reproductive Health Access
Therapeutic Communities of America
Tourette Syndrome Association
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices in the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry
United Cerebral Palsy
United Food and Commercial Workers
Univera Healthcare
United Steelworkers International Union (USW)
USAction
USAction Education Fund
U.S. PIRG (Public Interest Research Group)
U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
Voice for Virginia’s Children
Washington State Hospital Association
Women Work!
World Institute on Disability
John P. Crowley, Insurance Commissioner, State of Vermont
Matthew Denn, Insurance Commissioner, State of Delaware.
John Garamendi, Insurance Commissioner, State of California
Steven M. Goldman, Commissioner, Department of Banking and Insurance, State of New Jersey
Jorge Gomez, Commissioner of Insurance, State of Wisconsin
Christopher F. Koller, Health Insurance Commissioner, State of Rhode Island
Mike Kreidler, Insurance Commissioner, State of Washington
Kevin M. McCarty, Insurance Commissioner, State of Florida
Howard Mills, Superintendent, Insurance Department, State of New York
Alice A. Molasky-Arman, Commissioner of Insurance, State of Nevada
National Conference of Insurance Legislators
Mike Hatch, Attorney General, State of Minnesota
Bill Lockyer, Attorney General, State of California
Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, State of Illinois
Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General, State of New York
John H. Lynch, Governor, New Hampshire
Alexander B. Pete Grannis, New York Assembly Insurance Committee Chair
James L. Seward, New York Senate Insurance Committee Chair
Linda Gibbs, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, City of New York

[OhioChick]

17. Kick

This is serious, folks. AARP, The American Diabetes Association and The American Cancer Society took out an ad in The Cleveland Plain Dealer this Sunday.

It states:

"Helping small business offer quality health insurance is a good idea. But proposed U.S. Senate bill S. 1955 isn't the answer. It will permanently alter how health insurance is offered in the marketplace, undermining state regulations and consumer protections that require insurance companies to cover such vital benefits as cancer screening, mental health services, diabetes supplies and education, and well-child care. S. 1955 also creates disincentives for employers to hire older workers and people with chronic health conditions, which is not only wrong, it's discriminatory."

Also states to call Sen. DeWine tomorrow at 1-800-944-6723 and urge him to vote NO on S. 1955.

Half the space on the ad is a picture of a help wanted ad that reads:

Help Wanted:

Only Young & Healthy Need Apply

[caligirl]

18. thanks for the ad information, I'd love to see it.

[sidwill]

19. Another discussion on this issue

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2585909&mesg_id=2586706

We gotta help get a buzz going about this, tell your friends and family especially those who will be adversely affected, to get on the ball--start writing letters, organizing calling these Senators offices, etc....

[Craig3410]

21. Kick.

This NEEDS to get out.

[OhioChick]

22. I called today, requesting a "NO" vote. n/t

[sidwill]

23. Awesome!!

I have called both my state Senators and both the Maine Senators.

I have e-mailed them as well.

I also am passing out copies of a letter that people can sign and send to their Senators, if anyone is interested just ask and I will post them here.

[sidwill]

24. bump

stop these fuckers

[sidwill]

25. Start working those phones progressive activists!!!

This is one tangible way that progressive activism can positively affect the political process.

Call, fax, and e-mail your Senators to say NO to SB 1955!!