This is a long post, BUT please read all the way to the end (please).
Tonight I attended the Healthcare Teleconference sponsored by the Obama For America Organization ("OFA") hosted by Mitchell Stewart, National Director of OFA. Tonight's Guest Speaker is David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to President Obama. One of the reasons I participated was to discover whether the President Obama Town Hall Meetings being held all over the country during August while congress is on recess, is constructive towards learning and understanding healthcare reform, productive towards gaining inscreased support for the passage of healthcare reform, or obstructive by having the resemblance of a bull fight between shouters for and against a healthcare reform plan in America.
Mr. Stewart introduced himself and opened the healthcare teleconference encouraging continued support of Healthcare Reform and the Public Option. He also thanked those already supporting Healthcare Reform by expressing that OFA and himself was encouraged to continue pushing for Healthcare Reform because of the out-pouring support and the great accomplishments by President Obama since taking office and honoring his promise to America for healthcare reform.
Mr. Stewart explained that many people are going to town hall meetings across the country and that healthcare reform continues to be an emotional issue. This means that persons against healthcare reform also attend town hall meetings and he encouraged supporters of healthcare reform to be understanding that there are a lot of myths in circulation about healthcare reform and many people are worried and afraid due to those myths. Mr. Stewart explained that he signed President's Obama's Declaration for healthcare reform and we are in a fight against insurance companies. The purpose of tonight's healthcare teleconference is to share real stories about why healthcare reform is needed in America, encourage honest dialogue, and to facilitate honest discussions about what worries American citizens about healthcare reform. Mr. Stewart urged each attendee to get involved in their communities by attending town hall meetings and talking to neighbors, friends, and family so that people can pull in the same direction to ensure that healthcare reform is passed into law in the U.S. The floor was turned over to Ms. Sara Orman, a Volunteer in Ohio.
Ms. Sara Orman explained that she became involved in supporting healthcare reform for a couple of reasons.
1. She is a school teacher who has medical coverage; however, she has friends and family who do not have medical insurance because it is not affordable and they suffer needlessly because of that;
2. She has personal knowledge of people who are unemployed suddenly and cannot afford the premiums under COBRA because it is way too expensive. In fact, her husband lost his job and under COBRA, the insurance premiums were not affordable;
3. In addition, her husband has a cancer gene according to the health insurance company that will lead to cancer. Based on that, even if insured, her husband will not be able to obtain coverage for any form of cancer that he "might" develop because it would be classified as a "pre-existing condition" by the insurance company;
4. In addition to that, the Orman's have a 22-year-old daughter who attends college. Their daughter lost health coverage when she turned 22 years old. In order to purchase insurance as a "Sponsored Dependent," it would cost the Ormans $760.00 per month in additional premium costs. They cannot afford that premium for their daughter so she is currently without health insurance. America can do better! America is the "only" country that does not guarantee healthcare to all of its citizens!
5. Because of her personal experience, Ms. Orman visits Congresspersons and shares her story and encourages them to support Healthcare Reform. She speaks at town hall meetings and she talks to her neighbors, family, and friends to favor Healthcare Reform and why it is important for as many people as possible to get involved during August to urge passage of Healthcare Reform.
Mr. David Axelrod introduced himself and spoke about the town hall meeting held in New Hampshire earlier today that received massive media news coverage. He emphasized that the typical town hall meeting is not as obstructive as the one appearing in the news in New Hampshire:
1. Healthcare works well from companies, but not for people;
2. It is important for both the insured and the uninsured to support healthcare reform because healthcare reform will eliminate the "pre-existing" condition exclusions that healthcare insurers use to deny claims;
3. Young college graduates can stay on the family insurance through age 26 and this is a very common issue for families;
4. When people get sick and need their insurance companies there for them, the insurance companies should be there;
5. Out-of-pocket expenses will be "capped" and this will prevent families from bankruptcy and also take the cap off where families would lose coverage;
6. America must be hardy and vigorous in pushing for healthcare reform. There must be a strong alliance with grass roots organizations who have an important role in healthcare reform. Town hall meetings should be constructive dialogues and not obstructive and by attending town hall meetings and speaking calmly and respecting each other, these meetings will not be obstructive.
- Remember that the media loves to sensationalize so do not be misled that all town hall meetings are boisterous and obstructive. In fact, most town hall meetings are calm and collective and productive. Each side has a right to voice their opinions, ideas, etc. so be respectful of that.
7. Healthcare premiums are growing at a rate of 3 x the rate of wages, the number of small business that can afford to provide health insurance to employees is shrinking and only 1/3 of small business exist today that can offer health insurance to workers;
8. Preventive care is the most important aspect of healthcare reform and that includes check-ups, mammograms, chronic disease management and this will result in a healthier America and savings in the long run;
9. August is the critical month to be heard constructively about healthcare reform so please visit your Congresspersons, write to them, join grass roots organizations, talk to your family and friends, attend community meetings, town hall meetings, read information posted on various websites such as HealthcareReform.org, DNC.org, Healthcare For America Now at
www.healthcareforamericanow.org or by requesting information or leave a voice mail message at ofainfo@dnc.org. The floor was then opened to attendees as follows:
Q: Caller from Ohio asked if the environment of all town hall meetings based on shouting and drowning out real voices from being "heard?"
A: No. These unfortunately happen to be the ones that get publicized by the media for sensationalism. Although it is an emotional issue and every voice is important, there are many more town hall meetings that are calm, orderly, constructive, and positive and we should encourage this type of town hall meeting format at all cost. Please help us to accomplish this by attending town hall meetings in your area and maintain calm and get your voice heard.
- Remember, we don't want to exclude anybody, but we do want to encourage constructive dialogue so that we can hear and understand each other respectfully;
- A constructive town hall meeting is the most effective town hall meeting!
Q: Caller from Indiana asked how will young voters be affected by healthcare reform?
A: Good question. After attending college kids learn that they are dumped from the family's health insurance and their only choice is to go to the Emergency Room. This healthcare reform plan will require coverage up to age 26.
- Healthcare Reform will also create a healthcare exchange plan where kids can choose an affordable plan. This will focus on preventive care at no extra charge. You know in Washington, DC, there is this echo-chamber of hyperness and the appearance of a win/loose battle, but across the country, folks are working very hard and calmly and talking to people with these types of concerns and who have probing questions and it this is appreciated as you help to make healthcare reform a reality. Let me turn the call over to Mr. Jack Deneebley, Community Organizer from California.
Mr. Jack Dneebley, Community Organizer from California is currently attending a town hall meeting in California.
1. Thank you. I am currently at Congressman Adam Smith's town hall meeting and I also stand with the President on healthcare reform;
2. Attending this meeting are doctors, nurses, veterans, scores of people and it is a very orderly crowd. OFA volunteers are passing out Fact v. Myth flyers and there are some opposers present with signs that read, 'What's the rush?" They are orderly.
3. Mr. Deneebley share his story of how his father arrived in America as an immigrant and worked in a major hospital cleaning floors for several decades. Mr. Deneebley shared that his father attended medical school and soon became a doctor. As proud as he is of his father's accomplishments, Mr. Deneebley shared that when his father developed a brain tumor and after years of paying insurance premiums, his insurance company denied coverage for chemo-therapy. His father paid for his own therapy until the time came to make a decision between continuing paying for his own chemo-therapy and paying for Jack to attend college. His father stopped paying for chemo-therapy and paid for his son's college tuition. Seventeen days after stopping chemo-therapy, Jack's father succumbed to the brain cancer. Jack now works hard to see a change in healthcare for the country and he shared these important facts:
1. We can change lives, save lives, and we have to do this by respectfully telling the truth about healthcare in America and the truth is in our history;
2. This August recess in Congress is a crucial time to share our stories with our elected officials and we can accomplish this very great thing called healthcare reform;
3. We have to count on each other to roll up our sleeves and knock on doors together, talk to our neighbors, and reform healthcare brick by brick and mortar by mortar. We can change our lives and communities and we can do better for our children. Thank you.
Mr. Jeremy concluded the teleconference and invited questions or comments be sent to either healthcare@barackobama.com, ofainfo@dnc.org, or by leaving a voice mail message at 1-866-495-2004. Of course, you can count on me to keep U.S. up to date on this social network. Remember, knowledge is power and lobbyists are counting on the fact that ignorance will guarantee them continued control and power over our health at our expenses!
Tonight's teleconference illustrated that most of the town hall meetings across the country are peaceful and an opportunity for both sides to be heard. Our task must now become urging the passage of healthcare reform in the U.S. Won't you please, please join this effort? Thank you.
AgnesB. Levine
Compliments of
The Obama Healthcare Advocacy Team
Agnes B. Levine is the Author of "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By an African-American Bipolar Woman" (ISBN 13 978-9754612-0-4). Available NOW on Amazon.com
Posted By: agnes levine
Tuesday, August 11th 2009 at 10:50PM
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