A Shot in the Arm

On November 17, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) joined Health Care for America Now advocates from across the country in telling the health insurance lobby that ENOUGH is ENOUGH. With chants, signs, and speeches, 500 people from throughout the Midwest ordered America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) to move and get out of the way of making high-quality and affordable health care a reality for millions of Americans. AFC’s own Laurie Wettstead was among those who made the case for why we cannot wait for health care reform. “We’re being held for ransom by the health insurance companies. It’s kind of like, ‘give us your money, or someone dies,’ because that’s exactly what it comes down to.” Watch the full video of Laurie’s speech here.

The message from the podium was clear. We must keep the pressure on!

Wendell Potter, former insurance industry insider turned advocate, said the rhetoric against reform is manufactured by health insurance companies to protect their profits. “I know from years of experience as an industry PR executive how effective insurance companies have been in using scare tactics to turn public opinion away from any reform efforts that would threaten profitability...The insurance companies say they are bringing solutions to the table.  But if Congress adopts their failed solutions and doesn’t create a robust public insurance option to force companies to truly compete, the final bill might as well be called the Insurance Industry Profit Protection and Enhancement Act." Watch the video of Wendell Potter’s speech here.

The U.S. Senate is poised to begin debate on its health care bill before Thanksgiving. There is no question that there will be a fight. Opponents to health care reform will ramp up their favorite rhetoric and make false claims, but they will not win. We cannot and will not allow it. The majority of Americans overwhelmingly support comprehensive health care reform that includes a robust public option. In a recent survey conducted by Sen. Durbin, more than 80% of 84,000 Illinois respondents said they support a robust health care reform bill.

We are SO close to winning, we can almost taste it! But we ain’t done yet. We can’t pack up our signs, put our petitions away, or hang up the phone. No ma’am! We must continue to rally and be heard and ensure that we see this campaign for real and robust reform to victory.

Take action today by sending a fax to U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris urging them to ensure that health care reform meets the needs of people with HIV.