Health Care Reform Now

Like all Americans, LGBT people have seen health care costs skyrocket and insurance get priced beyond the reach of many working people. Even people who can afford insurance can wake up to find that they're no longer covered by huge companies who only care about the bottom line. In most of the country where our relationships aren't recognized, LGBT families are especially at risk because our partners and children aren't covered by employer health insurance plans. LGBT people often face unfair barriers to accessing even routine health care.

The current system is broken.

Too many people go without care when they need it. Affordable, quality health care is important. Make sure that your voice is heard above the noise from wealthy insurance companies and their lobbyists.

Please contact your Senators and Representatives in Congress to tell them that you want to see health care reform that makes a difference for all of us. Ask them to support the President's Health Care Reform plan to bring security and stability to Americans.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Vote For Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Americans.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I've been watching the coverage about health care all summer. Now that Congress is back in session, I want you to support the President's health care reform. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and our families, like all other Americans, have seen it get harder and harder for anyone to get affordable, quality health coverage.

I want you to take the necessary steps to fix our broken system. There's no way that a country as great as ours should allow nearly 50 million people to go under- or uninsured. It's not right. It's not fair.

LGBT people face even greater barriers when it comes to getting access to health care. We all need: coverage we can afford, comprehensive benefits we can count on,the choice of a private or public health insurance plan, and equal access to quality care.

Support the President's Health Care Reform by voting for it this session. This plan offers stability to people who have insurance, security for people who don't have insurance now, and a way to get control on rising health care costs.

Please don't allow big business and special interests to keep affordable, quality health care choices out of the reach of all Americans.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 11, 2009

Background Information

Too many Americans don't have access to quality, affordable health care and with increasing unemployment and an economy still in recession that number is going to get larger and larger. Under the current system, many working people find it impossible to pay for rising insurance premiums. In 45 states, insurance companies can pick and choose who they're willing to cover. These large, profit-making businesses can toss people out of plans if their coverage starts to get "too expensive" for the bottom line.

The situation is even worse for LGBT people. Society's bias and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression has meant that many LGBT people have had poor or no access to adequate health care. LGBT individual health has suffered disproportionately from stigma, stress, and violence. We have often not had access for even routine care.

Any health care reform must be fully LGBT-inclusive. As Congress and the Obama Administration undertake reform of the American health care system to ensure that all Americans have equitable access to the full continuum of health promotion, prevention, and treatment services, we must be sure to effectively address the needs of distinct populations.

Health care disparities affecting the LGBT community are now recognized by numerous federal agencies and working groups, including the following divisions of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The HHS Secretary's Advisory Committee on Healthy People 2020 has acknowledged the imperative to address the disparities in health status and health care access that affect the LGBT community, as well as the necessity of targeting the specific needs of the LGBT community when undertaking health care system reform.

The President's proposed plan brings stability to people who presently have health care coverage, provide security for people who don't have insurance now, and offers a plan to keep costs under control.

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