Insurance Reforms
12 July 2010
...What I refuse to do is simply create a system where insurance companies have more customers on Uncle Sam's dime, but still fail to meet their responsibilities. That is why we need to end the practice of denying coverage on the basis of preexisting conditions. The days of cherry-picking who to cover and who to deny—those days are over.
This is personal for me. I will never forget watching my own mother, as she fought cancer in her final days, worrying about whether her insurer would claim her illness was a preexisting condition so it could get out of providing coverage. Changing the current approach to preexisting conditions is the least we can do—for my mother and every other mother, father, son, and daughter, who has suffered under this practice.
Like President Obama, we need to activate anger, not fear, at the insurance industry. We need to show that the new law holds insurance companies accountable. And we need to keep our message personal, using stories to show how the new law makes our system fair, stable, and secure for hard-working people.
Our health insurance should cover us—even when we're sick!
Anger is a powerful emotion that motivates people to action. This should NOT be confused with using fear based messaging. When voters are fearful, they become self-protective and change-averse; worrying that reform will make things worse rather than better for their families.
Remind voters that the old system wasn't working for them and that insurance companies, even during these hard economic times, are reaping record profits while hardworking Americans are getting squeezed by higher and higher costs.
Americans want to rein in the outrageous greed of unregulated insurance companies, force them to treat people fairly, and hold them accountable. The new health care law reforms insurance company practices and gives the insured concrete benefits, giving them peace of mind.
Here is an example of how you can talk with the public about why and how the health care law reforms insurance company practices.
Example Message:
"It's not right that for years millions of people couldn't get insurance or were afraid to change jobs because they had a "pre-existing condition." Insurance companies had complete control. They decided the size of our premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and how much they would pay. We had no choice but to take what they offered. Insurers spent a fortune on "administrative costs", wasting doctors' time filling out paperwork, and denying us coverage for tests or procedures our doctors say we need.
"Finally we have a law that puts patients first, reforms insurance company practices, and gives us back control. No longer can an insurance company search through your file when you get sick to find some reason to drop you. When the law is fully implemented, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to exclude anyone for a pre-existing condition. And there will be no more annual or lifetime limits on the amount an insurance company will pay for your care."