Response from CT Rep Joe Courtney on Health Care

[LynzM]

I emailed Rep. Courtney earlier today in support of a single-payer system. His response is below:

Dear Lindsay,

Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciate your comments and having the benefit of your views.

I believe that hardworking Americans should be able to take their kids to the doctor, and that those individuals who are retired, ill or out of work should not live in fear that one illness will drive them into bankruptcy. Insurance premiums have sky-rocketed, and yet access to quality care grows increasingly more difficult and expensive. After decades of the status quo, there is no debate that Americans need access affordable, stable and quality health care coverage

In Connecticut, we have seen first hand the urgent need for health care reform. In early June, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut issued a proposal to increase premium rates in their individual insurance plans by up to 32 percent. The size of increase will undoubtedly be unaffordable for many in Connecticut and force many out of their current coverage, and that is why I so strongly opposed this misguided proposal. But beyond the immediate impact of this increase, Anthem's rate hike is a clear example of why reform of our health care system is so urgently needed. For too long, lack of competition in health insurance has led to a consolidation of the market in which only a few major insurers dominate, leaving Connecticut families susceptible to these kinds of unreasonable requests.

That is one of the reasons why President Barack Obama and Congress have joined together to work on long overdue reforms to our health care system. On July 14, 2009, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200), legislation to overhaul our health care system, was introduced in the House of Representatives after being publicly available as a discussion draft for several weeks. On July 17, 2009, the Education and Labor Committee, one of three committees with jurisdiction over the reform legislation, approved the bill by a vote of 26-22. As a member of this committee, I was pleased to vote in favor of America's Affordable Health Choices Act following consideration of the legislation.

In general, this legislation outlines six pillars of reform with the general goal of expanding insurance coverage and lowering overall health care costs. The six reform pillars include expansion of insurance coverage and choice, affordability of care, shared cost responsibilities, prevention and wellness, investments in a robust health care workforce, and cost containment.

Individuals and families in eastern Connecticut will benefit from lowered costs, expanded coverage, greater choice of care, and stability of coverage for them and their families. That means more than simply having a health care plan - it means having the piece of mind that you have coverage that puts you and your family first, and focuses on keeping you healthy, will not threaten your family's finances, and will be there when you need it.

The legislation will allow you to keep your insurance that you currently have if you like it and it meets the needs of you and your family. For those without coverage, or insufficient coverage, the legislation will create more options to ensure access to affordable care. It will also ensure that you and your doctors are making personal health decisions, not insurance companies. This legislation also prioritizes health and wellness by eliminating all co-pays for preventative care services and ensures that no American is forced into bankruptcy due to an unforeseeable medical illness or accident.

In addition, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act includes the creation of a public health insurance option available under a "Health Insurance Exchange." The public option will create a new outlet for those without insurance to obtain affordable coverage. Beyond expanding access to insurance coverage, the public health insurance plan will ensure access, increase competition and lower overall health care costs for most Americans.

Finally, an estimated 42 million Americans are denied health care coverage due to a pre-existing health condition - such as heart disease, diabetes, prior cesarean sections and even old sports injuries. Also included in H.R. 3200 are long overdue insurance market reforms that will remove pre-existing condition exclusions in health insurance markets. In both the 110th and 111th Congresses, I introduced legislation to eliminate the practice of pre-existing condition exclusions, and am pleased that these provisions are included in the bill under consideration in the House. Removal of pre-existing condition exclusions in health insurance markets is necessary with improving access and quality of coverage for the uninsured, and must be a key part of any bill passed by Congress.

Like you, I believe the time for health care reform is now. I feel so strongly about this important cause that when I took office in 2007, I promised not to accept the taxpayer subsidized Congressional health insurance plan, a benefit offered to all Members of Congress, until Americans had access to affordable quality care. Two and a half years later, I have kept that promise and have not enrolled in the Congressional health plan - and will not do so until we enact health care reform.

However, forces of opposition against the bill are working night and day to scare you, your family members, neighbors, coworkers and friends in an attempt to derail this important effort. To help cut through some of the misleading claims being made about the bill, I have put together a website, www.courtney.house.gov/choice, listing some commonly asked questions about the legislation and resources to learn more about it. I hope you find it useful in understanding what is really in this bill and what it actually does - not the myths meant to keep health care reform from the American people.

Thank you, again, for sharing your support for health care reform. Should you have any additional comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future. For more information on my views on other issues or to see what I have been working on in Congress, please feel free to visit my official website at www.house.gov/courtney and sign up for my e-newsletter.

Sincerely,

JOSEPH COURTNEY
Member of Congress