U.S. Group To Lobby For New Health Care System
A new group with a common goal of health-care reform has launched a multi-million dollar advertising campaign to keep the issue in the spotlight after the November elections.
A coalition of unions, think tanks, and other groups joined together to ensure healthcare tops the U.S. political agenda. The group, Health Care for America Now, said it had the support of 100 labor groups, community organizations, medical groups and activists.
"This is the human rights movement of our time," said Jeff Blum, executive director of USAction, a non-profit that campaigns for beefing up Medicare, Social Security, and other entitlements.
Health Care for America Now is located on Washington’s K Street, famous for its high-powered, aggressive lobbyists. The coalition said Tuesday it was immediately starting a $1.5 million advertising campaign on television, newspapers and online. The group hopes to hit an eventual spending goal of $40 million.
"If there is one thing that our government should be guaranteeing each one of us, it is the basic, fundamental right to affordable and quality health care. This must be the birthright of every American," said Blum.
Groups that back the organization include the National Education Association, the National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Service Employees International Union, which represents health-care workers.
American voters have recognized health care reform as one of the top issues in the upcoming November election.
Both presidential candidates say they are strong on reform. Republican candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois say they are putting together their own health-care plans.
According to a statement released by the Health Care for America Now coalition, "The campaign also calls for a government role in setting and enforcing rules on the insurance industry which consistently charges whatever it wants, sets high deductibles, denies coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and drops coverage when people get sick."
The United States currently has no single health-care system.
Instead, Americans rely on a mix of private, public and employer-sponsored insurance plans. An alarming 47 million Americans are left with no coverage at all.
The recently formed coalition said it wants to keep in place the best options available, while avoiding a fully nationalized health care system.
"Americans can keep the private insurance they have, join a new private insurance plan, or choose a public health insurance plan," the group said.
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