Helpful Links

President Obama and the American public have made Health Care Reform our nation’s number one issue in 2009. The stats tell us why: More than 45 million citizens lack health insurance. A Harvard study reports that nearly 45,000 annual deaths are due to a lack of health insurance. That means one American dies every 12 minutes due to lack of insurance.

Young people are a big part of this too. Thirty percent of people aged 19-29 are uninsured.  Often, they don’t think they need insurance because their health is good. However, an August report from the Commonwealth Fund stated that 15% of adults ages 18 to 29 suffer from arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease or hypertension - and more than half are overweight. We live in an interconnected world, so when young people don’t get insurance, the cost for older Americans goes up. This is why the Senate Finance Committee is crafting a bill that addresses "young invincibles"  in a way that makes it affordable for them and everyone else.

In Congress, the discussion is around what reform should look like. To guide those efforts, Obama has outlined “core principles” such as more coverage stability and security, reducing costs, and better care. His plan can be seen here in a viewer friendly 4 minute video as presented to Congress on September 9, 2009. (For more detailed information see the Whitehouse plan). His plan requires that people have some sort of insurance coverage. There would also be a penalty for not having it. To help people avoid such penalties, government would offer their own coverage as an option for anyone who can’t afford private insurance or whose current plan does not meet their needs. So when you hear “public option”, it refers to a government led plan similar to how the government offers Medicare to seniors over 65.

Some, such as the Physicians for a National Health Program, don’t believe in the public option and see the proposed benefits as exaggerated. On the other side, former Labor Secretary Robert Reich explains what a public option for healthcare coverage really means for working people in this video. Then there’s Comedian Will Ferrell, who claims we need to protect the profits of insurance companies in this hilarious video.   

But how will Health Care Reform affect YOU?  To find out, take the "What's In Reform for You" Quiz . Similarly, this interactive will help you understand whether you will have to pay higher taxes as a result of the reforms. To put it in further perspective, see case examples based on a Senate/House plan.

Links helping to debunk myths about health insurance:

• The Moral Case for Health Insurance Reform
• Ten Health Care Reform MYTHS- from CBS
• Even More MYTHS about Reform- from AAR

Links to help you get information on health and wellness, health care reform, and more:

• Health Care Crunch
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Reform Proposal
• Reality Check
• http://www.healthreform.gov/
• American Progress
• Info from the Kaiser Foundation
• The Obama Plan
• Find A Health Center –If you still haven't found health insurance and need to see a doctor, visit this site to find a federally funded health clinic.
• The National Coalition on Health Care is a nonprofit, nonpartisan alliance working to improve America's health through online education and printed materials.
• Conservatives for Patients' Rights details 16 health care reform proposals.
• LocalHealthCareReform.com – De-Spamming Health is a grassroots forum offering support and information for local health care reform.
•  This website offers facts on health care, the latest news on reform including a news blog, links to state coalitions, initiatives, grassroots movements and ideas on how you can get involved.
• This Republican Party sponsored website allows you to join various interest groups, including health care, and has a regularly updated health care news section.

Perhaps you are one of the thousands who have lost their job and were left without health insurance; here are some links to help explain your options for staying covered:

• CNN on Health Insurance – Good article about sources for help when you lose health insurance.
• FamiliesUSA.org – This is another advocacy site, but has a pdf updated in March 2009 that explains what to do if you lose your health insurance.
• COBRA Learning Center – E-health Insurance compares COBRA coverage vs. buying your own health care when you lose your insurance coverage.
• Find A Health Center –If you still haven't found health insurance and need to see a doctor, visit this site to find a federally funded health clinic.