Upcoming Events Will Highlight Affordability Is Key to Real Health Care Reform

As Congress works toward a compromise on health care reform legislation, advocates for working families, small business owners and health care providers are calling on policymakers to make sure the final bill provides quality health insurance at an affordable cost to all Americans.
 
The Pennsylvania Health Access Network, along with more than 750 groups representing 100 million people across the nation, has signed an open letter to President Obama and members of Congress calling on them to make health care affordable for all American families. The letter urges policymakers to include the best elements of both the House and Senate bills on affordability in the final legislation.
 
Now, we need your help! Call 1-800-828-0498 to tell your Congressmember and Senators that real reform must include quality affordable health insurance. Click here to find who your Congressmember is.
 
Our message is real reform means affordable health care: The House bill does a far better job at extending coverage to many more people and sets premium and out-of-pocket costs for lower-income workers at levels that are likely to be affordable to them. The Senate bill, meanwhile, provides strong protections for middle-income families that should be included in the final bill.
 

PHAN is also partnering with Health Care for America Now - Pennsylvania (HCAN-PA) and other groups for events on Wednesday, January 13 in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Southwestern Pennsylvania calling for health care reform that is affordable for all American families. These events will send the message to House and Senate leadership: if it's not affordable, it's not reform.
 
The events will be held in conjunction with the national "Call Congress" day of action and the health care affordability summit in Washington, D.C. and will feature Pennsylvanians who have struggled to maintain health insurance as costs have skyrocketed at four times the rate of wages. 
 
Please join us!
 
PHILADELPHIA EVENT
 
WHO:
Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN), Health Care For America Now (HCAN), and partners

WHAT:
Press Conference to call for affordability in the final health reform bill

WHEN:
Wednesday, January 13, 12:00 p.m.

WHERE:
In front of Hahnemann University Hospital, 230 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
 
HARRISBURG EVENT
 
WHO:
Healthcare for America Now (HCAN), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN), and partners
 
WHAT:
Press conference to call for real affordability in the final health reform bill
 
WHEN:
Wednesday, January 13, 5:30 p.m.
 
WHERE:
Across from Pinnacle Health's Harrisburg Hospital on South Front Street, near Chestnut Street, Harrisburg, PA
 
SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA EVENT
 
WHO:
Health Care for America Now (HCAN), Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN), and partners
 
WHAT:
Press conference to call for real affordability in the final health reform bill.
 
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Speakers will include a retired healthcare worker who after a career of over 30 years at a local hospital is forced to go without health insurance and a local family farmer who has struggled for years to afford quality insurance. Local members of the faith community will also be present to advocate on behalf of their congregations and speak to the moral imperative of passing a strong health reform bill.
 
Representatives from Congressman Jason Altmire's office have been invited to speak to the Congressman's current position on health care reform as we press for his support of the final reform bill that will be voted on in the next few weeks. 
 
WHEN:
Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 12:00 p.m.
 
WHERE:
Outside, in front of the Ellwood City Hospital, 724 Pershing St., Ellwood City, PA