Health Care Reform?

I encourage everyone to write their senators and representatives in DC to voice opposition to the health care reform bills currently being considered. I will be detailing my efforts here. This is Senator Patty Murray's response to my first email.


Dear Mr. F.:

Thank you for writing me to share your thoughts on health care reform. It is good to hear from you.

I believe that health care reform is one of the most critical issues facing our nation. Our current health care system is unstable and unsustainable. Too many people do not have health care coverage and many of those who have coverage are worried about losing it in this uncertain economy. Businesses and families are finding it harder and harder to deal with increasing health care premiums.

In addition, Washington state family budgets cannot sustain the continual rise in health care costs and hidden taxes in the form of rising premiums to cover the uninsured. If we do not get health care costs under control, local, state and federal government budgets will have to take on the weight of rising health care costs. While health care reform may require an initial cost investment, it will pay off in the long term and the cost of letting the system become more unstable is much greater. Without reform to our health care system, premiums will continue to rise, coverage will become more uncertain, businesses will lose competitiveness, and it will be harder for Americans to have access to care.

To address these issues, the Senate released the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on November 19, 2009. This legislation lays out policy changes for health care reform in America. This package works to rein in health care costs with a goal of lowering them in the long term and ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage. It allows those who like their health insurance to keep it and provides options to those who do not have access to health insurance coverage.

This bill also includes provisions to implement several key health insurance reforms. For example, insurance companies would no longer be able to refuse coverage to individuals due to preexisting conditions, patients' out-of-pocket expenses would be limited and all annual and lifetime caps on insurance coverage would be eliminated.

In addition, an independent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office determined that this bill is fully paid for, will provide coverage to more than 94% of Americans, and will reduce the deficit by $127 billion over the next ten years. This analysis shows the American people that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act saves money while extending the life of Medicare and putting patients first.

The House of Representatives passed their own version of health care reform on November 7, 2009. There is still a lot of debate and work to be done on health care reform legislation and as the Senate moves forward on health care reform legislation, I will be weighing the many concerns that I am hearing from constituents all across Washington state. As this effort continues, I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind.

I hope all is well in La Center.

Sincerely,

Patty Murray
United States Senator