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Send a Letter to Your Local Newspaper

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One of the most effective ways to influence your elected representatives is to have your point of view published in the local newspaper.

The staffs of your elected representatives read all of the published letters.  They know each letter published speaks for many other people who have a similar point of view.

So take a moment and prepare a letter that describes your support for health reform. 

More health care spending isn’t always better

Submitted by pahealth on March 20, 2009 - 1:20pm
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Medicare spending in 2006 varied more than threefold across the U.S. hospital regions.  Some of this variation is due to differences in prices paid for similar services and some is due to differences in the illnesses people experience.  But even after accounting for such factors, a twofold difference exists. 

That difference is almost entirely explained by the volume of health care services received by similar patients. 

Demand for adultBasic overflows

Submitted by pahealth on March 18, 2009 - 4:13pm
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Seven years after Pennsylvania launched a low-cost health insurance plan for working-age adults, demand for the program is overflowing.  According to a March 15 Associated Press story written by Marc Levy and published by the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 25,000 names were added to the waiting list in February alone, bringing the total on the list to 205,000.

Health Savings Accounts & High-Deductible Plans

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Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) have received a lot of attention in recent years from policymakers trying to make health care more affordable.

HSAs provide a generous tax incentive for people who save money for medical costs.  The reason for creating this incentive is to give consumers a financial stake in the medical services they purchase.  By making consumers more cost-conscious, it is hoped the medical marketplace will become more price-sensitive and systemwide costs will moderate.

Governor’s proposal falls far short of need

Submitted by pahealth on February 13, 2009 - 4:48pm
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Governor Rendell's plan to expand the adultBasic program to 90,000 individuals is drawing mixed reactions from consumer advocates.

Foremost is distress over the fact that while the adultBasic waiting list is approaching 200,000 people, only an additional 45,000 individuals would be covered by the Governor's plan. 

Mitigating the disappointment is recognition the Commonwealth faces a severe fiscal crisis and appreciation for the Governor's persistent advocacy for the uninsured. 

Insurance costs, the Blues’ surpluses, and Blues’ merger explored

Submitted by pahealth on January 15, 2009 - 3:52pm
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In a 5-day series of articles published by the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice and the Sranton Times-Tribune, health reporter Daniel Axelrod has examined the problem of rising health insurance rates by focusing on the actions of Pennsylvania's nonprofit Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurers.

The articles include a variety of perspectives and a wealth of specific data.

Following is a list of articles:

Obama says problems with health care are “part of the emergency”

Submitted by pahealth on December 16, 2008 - 5:36pm
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President-elect Obama is signalling his intent to make health reform a top priority during the first year of his administration.

Speaking December 11th at a news conference in Chicago, Obama picked Tom Daschle as his choice to lead Health and Human Services and direct a new White House Office of Health Reform.  A part of Daschle's job, according to the president-elect, is to secure "affordable, accessible health care for every single American."

Finding Coverage, Accessing Care: Resources & Options in Pennsylvania

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application/pdf iconCommunity Health Centers in PA.pdf
application/pdf iconWhere to Go--Health Care Resources in PA (Jan. 2012).pdf

Finding affordable, quality health insurance that you can count on isn't easy (it can be a bit of a nightmare, especially if you have a pre-existing health condition), and that's why PHAN was committed to fighting for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and why we'll be gearing up to ensure that the new consumer protections and coverage expansions brought by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are implemented and strengthened in Pennsylvania.

Uninsured adults by county

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Based on data collected in late 2007 and early 2008 by Market Decisions LLC, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department has estimated the number of uninsured adults in each county. 

Statewide, the Department concluded Pennsylvania had 883,000 uninsured adults ages 18-64.  In Union County, over 23 percent of such adults were uninsured.  This was the highest uninsured rate in the state. In seventeen counties, over 15 percent of adults in the 18-64 age group lacked health insurance.

Why Pennsylvania Needs Health Insurance Reform

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1.  Because nearly 1 million adults under age 65 have no health insurance.

-Between 60-65 percent are employed.

-100 percent are worried that an illness or accident could push them into bankruptcy.

2.  Because many more are losing health coverage as the economic recession continues.

-Could you afford your current health insurance policy if your only income was an unemployment check?

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