aarp why we will win
TRANSCRIPT
AARP 11.19.08
Why 2009 is Connecticut’s time
6reasonswe will
win in
2009
1
People are desperate for
change on health care
2
The economic crisis hasn’t suppressed
that feeling
3
The economic crisis creates opportunity
for us
4
a plan that…
• keeps us healthy
• expands choice
• gets more for our money
• gives us peace of mind
….really is smartreally is right
&
it really is time
55our our
campaigncampaign
our our FoundationFoundation
our fundamental organizing principle:
no “red states”
no “blue states”
6
health careis
everyone’sissue
People are desperate for
change on health care
What is“Joe the Plumber”
thinking abouthealth care?
an October 5 – 9 Lake Research national pollof likely voters
After the economy,health care
is the most important issue to voters
http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/resources/VoterSurvey.cfm
When asked what issue people are
personally most worried
about...
health care
was the top issue
3%
4%
4%
5%
5%
7%
5%
21%
19%
14%
8%
7%
8%
38%
33%
24%
17%
13%
10%
17%
11%
9%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Crime, drugs and gangs
Fear of another terrorist attack
Medicare
Stock market
Schools and education
Being able to live on a fixed income
Affordable housing
Retirement savings
Jobs
Rising costs of gas and food
Health care
Most important
Most/ secondmost important
Specifically, people are worried about:
Rising premiums & co-pays
Losing their health insurance
Quality of health care
Nearly 2/3 of voters favor providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans….
even if it means
“a major role for the federal
government”
or
“a tax increase”
“Do you favor or oppose providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans……”
64%
the economic crisis hasn’t suppressed
that feeling….
and may have even and may have even strengthened itstrengthened it
The economic crisis presents
opportunities for us
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/09/28/weekinreview/20080928_MARSH_GRFK.html?scp=1&sq=700%20billion%20chart&st=cse
When the crisis is big enough,
we figure out how to deal
with it
The debate over government’s role
in the economy and in protecting people
from economic forces and greed is over
The question now is
how is the government
involved and
what does it do?
the people who profitprofit off the system are also the people running running the system
in both finance and health care:
(At one public managed-care company), their medical loss ratio went from 78.5 to 79 - their stock dropped ten percent in one day. There's been a disconnect:
“I used to be a pluralist, free-market economy - but it is not working in health care the way it should.
David Benfer, CEO and President
of St Raphael’s Hospital
These companies were created originally as non-profits around the law of large numbers and true insurance principles.
Now that has changed to the law of profit and dividend.”
Business New Haven10/1/07
The economy- nationally &
internationally- will be a huge and
lingering issue at the federal level
health care can and needs to be addressed
at the state level
10.21.08
“States are being aggressive experimenters, and those lessons learned are going to be invaluable to us in looking at national health reform.”
Michelle Dimarob, Manager of legislative affairs for the National Federation of Independent Business in“Small Business Is Latest Focus in Health Fight,” July 10, 2008, New York Times
Now!
waiting is not an option
August 2008Harvard
journal articlehttp://works.bepress.com/christopher_robertson/2/
Half of all foreclosures are caused in part by medical problems
including illness or injuries (32%), unmanageable medical bills (23%),
lost work due to a medical problem (27%), or caring for sick family members (14%)
About a quarter of Wallingford’s
paraprofessionals are over
the age of 50
The crisis is not just about how much health care costs
it’s about what we are – or aren’t – getting for all
that money
May 2008 poll of U.S. Adults:
Currently, three out of four adultshave difficulty getting timely access to their doctor
Source: Commonwealth Fund Survey of Public Views of the U.S. Health Care System, 2008.
30% found difficulty getting an
appointment with a doctor the same or next day when sick, without going to ER
41% struggled to get advice from
their doctor by phone during regular office hours
60% had trouble getting care on
nights, weekends, or holidays without going to ER
October 2008:
64% of small business owners say it is important to offer healthcare coverage to their employees….
http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/pc/2008/sbm08.asp
54%
71%66%
Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008
Increasingly – they just can’t do it
% of small business owners offering health benefits
http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/pc/2008/sbm08.asp
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080924005308&newsLang=en
We need to actNOW
at the front endrather than at the
$700 billion back end
who’s better than us?
Organizers work the lists to:
turn out for regional eventswrite letters to the editors testify at hearingsorganize more peopleeducate the candidates
Membership by Senate district
Membership by House district
Membership by grantee
changing the
political DNAof
the state
our role
build leaders
build our numbers
build accountability
weblinks• Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease http://
www.fightchronicdisease.org/resources/VoterSurvey.cfm
• NYTImes graphic on bailout vs. medicare and Social Security http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/09/28/weekinreview/20080928_MARSH_GRFK.html?scp=1&sq=700%20billion%20chart&st=cse
• Commonwealth Fund on Public Views on U.S. Health System Organization http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=698138
• Harvard Health Matrix article on Medical debt and foreclosures http://works.bepress.com/christopher_robertson/2
• Towers Perrin 20 year Look at Health Care http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080924005308&newsLang=en
• American Express Small business survey http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/pc/2008/sbm08.asp