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For Immediate Release: Contact: Anders LindallNovember 4, 2009 312-641-6060
New Numbers Show Illinois Residents Can’tWait for Health Care Reform
New Report Makes It Clear: State delegation’s vote for House bill is a vote for families and small businesses over insurance companies
From small businesses to seniors, from the uninsured to families struggling to afford theinsurance they do have, the health care reform bill being considered in the House ofRepresentatives will make a real, positive impact on the everyday lives of thousands ofIllinois residents. Representing 1.6 million workers across the country--some 100,000active and retired members in Illinois--the American Federation of State, County, andMunicipal Employees (AFSCME) is highlighting important numbers compiled by theU.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee that truly demonstrate the need forreform now. While opponents of the legislation have fought hard to cover up the truthabout its benefits, the numbers say it all.As the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) comes to the floor for a vote,it’s clear that the Illinois congressional delegation, particularly Reps. Debbie Halvorson,Bill Foster, Melissa Bean, Dan Lipinski and Jerry Costello will have a chance to sidewith state residents over the insurance companies.
Real Reform: Strengthening Illinois Residents’ Financial Security
Too many Illinois families have faced financial ruin because of skyrocketinghealth care costs, and even more are just one medical emergency away fromdisaster.In 2008, thousands of Illinois residents filed for health care-related bankruptcies,including:
•
1,900 families in the 11
th
Congressional District (Rep. Halvorson)
•
1,700 families in the 12
th
Congressional District (Rep. Costello)
•
1,600 families in the 14
th
Congressional District (Rep. Foster)
•
1,500 families in the 3
rd
Congressional District (Rep. Lipinski)
•
1,400 families in the 8
th
Congressional District (Rep. Bean)
Just between these areas of the state, that’s 8,100 families who can’t evenchoose between paying for prescription drugs and buying food anymore,because they can’t afford either.
A ‘Yes’ vote on reform would mean a hard cap on annual out-of-pocket costs at
$10,000
per year, effectively preventing citizens from going bankrupt because ofout-of-control health care costs. Illinois families on the verge of bankruptcy can’twait for reform any longer.
Real Reform: Protecting Illinois Seniors by Strengthening Medicare
Too many Illinois seniors have fallen through the cracks of a broken system thatprioritizes insurance companies’ profits over their seniors’ health care needs.Thanks to the so-called “donut hole,” thousands of seniors every year are forcedto pay the full cost of their prescription drugs, and many of them can’t afford it.By congressional district, the number of seniors who fall into this costly gap inprescription-drug coverage:
•
9,800 seniors in Rep. Costello’s district
•
8,800 seniors in Rep. Halvorson’s district
•
7,900 seniors in Rep. Foster’s district
•
7,900 seniors in Rep. Lipinski’s district
•
6,800 seniors in Rep. Bean’s districtA ‘Yes’ vote on reform would mean cutting brand-name prescription drug costs inthe Part D “donut hole” by
50%
for these seniors, and would ultimately eliminatethe “donut hole” altogether.
Real Reform: Covering the Uninsured
The Affordable Health Care for America Act will mean affordable and accessiblecoverage for every American—nearly 50 million of who are uninsured today.Too many Illinois residents are currently living without any health insurance at all,including some 227,000 in the following districts:
•
63,000 uninsured individuals in Rep. Lipinski’s district
•
53,000 uninsured individuals in Rep. Foster’s district
•
40,000 uninsured individuals in Rep. Costello’s district
•
37,000 uninsured individuals in Rep. Bean’s district
•
34,000 uninsured individuals in Rep. Halvorson’s districtA ‘Yes’ vote on HR 3269 will ensure that these Illinoisans won’t have to worryanymore about their ability to afford health care for themselves, a sick child, or anailing spouse.
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