plan of action - september 1, 2017

​Health Care

You’re sitting on your roof, say, in Houston, with the flood waters rising around you. Your life depends on being rescued soon. Onlookers are aghast and will do anything to save you; your community, rescue services, local, state, and federal authorities - everyone wants to get you out of there. Resources are coordinated; help is sent. The helicopter arrives just in time, drops you a basket, lifts you clear of the rising torrent, and takes you to dry land. Here’s what won’t happen next: you won’t be billed for their services.

After witnessing at close hand the incredible logistical and humanitarian efforts being carried out in Houston in the last few days, it is obvious that NO ONE wants to see their neighbor die a slow and preventable death.

WHY THEN is it so hard for us to embrace the reality that an un- or under-insured person facing ill health is suffering their own personal disaster and needs relief no less than the person clinging to the roof as the flood threatens to engulf them?

Our so-called President, who was lately on the ground in Houston, trumpeting his largesse and boasting about how he will give to the relief effort both privately and publicly, has just slashed funding for Obamacare outreach,  making it harder for people to find and negotiate the programs available through the Affordable Care Act. Trump is eager to allocate money for high-profile disaster relief, while the private catastrophes facing Americans every day are allowed to continue. Help is NOT on its way.

Action:

1. Contact your Member of Congress and Senators and ask for a health care system which rescues ALL Americans from the threat of untreated illness.

2. Contact the White House with with the same message.