email to Hank Johnson

[RT Atlanta]

I just sent this to Hank Johnson and am sharing if anyone wants to use to send to their congressman as well regarding health care:

Please do not be swayed by the FOR PROFIT insurance companies and big pharmaceutical companies. We, THE PEOPLE, are hurting - some badly - with economic costs and need a single payer option.

FYI, the Atlanta Business Chronicle notes this week that "family health insurance premiums in Georgie have spiked 88 percent since 2000" according to a report from the US Health and Human Services. This type of increase is frankly unconscionable and, I dare say, it is doubtful that take home salaries have increased at this rate.

PLEASE - we need help and your voice in ensuring the citizens of your district, Georgia and our country have viable healthcare coverage for everyone.

Thank you for your consideration.

[RT Atlanta]

1. Hank's "response"

I used the quotes because the form letter is so canned and non-committal (to me anyhow) that it doesnt tell me much.

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Dear RT Atlanta:

Thank you for writing to express your opinion regarding comprehensive health reform. I welcome input from my constituents and I appreciate that you have taken the time to contact me about this very important issue. As you know, the Chairmen of the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees recently introduced H.R. 3200; America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. This bill builds upon what works in today's health care system while making improvements to insure all Americans have access to their choice of quality health care that is affordable.


Our health care system is broken. Most Americans know this and experience the effects of our broken system when they go to their regular doctors appointment, have to spend time in a hospital, need disability services, or attempt to fill a prescription at the pharmacy. I believe that comprehensive health care reform must reprioritize our health care spending to ensure access to affordable coverage, comprehensive benefits, a choice between viable public or private plans, and equal access for all. Americans suffering from diseases which are expensive to treat or who have pre existing conditions should not feel as if they are participants in a second class health system and services with a proven success rate should be covered. Physicians should not be forced to close their doors due to low reimbursement rates and we must begin to prioritize preventative care over disease management. Finally, health reform must also ensure that providers - doctors, nurses, hospitals - are reimbursed at a fair rate for the valuable services they provide.


Creating an affordable plan which satisfies these principles will not be easy and will require Congress to consider difficult choices and compromises. As your Representative in Congress I assure you that I am on the side of the average American who should never have to choose between health care and putting food on the table.


America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 protects your current coverage of individuals, allowing you to keep their insurance. By capping out-of-pocket spending, expanding state Medicaid programs, and filling in the Medicare Part D donut hole, we can halt skyrocketing costs and stem the prevalence of bankruptcies from medical expenses.


Through the implementation of a health insurance exchange, H.R. 3200 creates a market for small employers and individuals to comparison shop among private and public insurers. Participants will have the opportunity to select from a number of plans including a public health insurance option, which is subjected to the same market reforms and consumer protections as private plans, providing relief from discriminatory and exclusionary practices. It reprioritizes health care spending by generating sliding scale affordability credits for low income individuals. These credits are completely phased out at an individual income of $43,000, or 400 percent of poverty level.


I believe that individuals, employers, and the government have a shared responsibility to ensure that every American can afford quality health insurance. Under the bill, individuals will be responsible for attaining and maintaining their coverage. Those choosing not to obtain coverage will contribute a small percentage of their modified gross income. Recognizing the limitations of small businesses, employers with payrolls under $250,000 are exempt from the employer responsibility, while those willing to provide health insurance to their employees would be eligible for a new small business tax credit.


Through stronger prevention and wellness measures, increased access to primary care, payment accuracy to Medicaid and Medicare, and the implementation of a health insurance exchange, we can slow the growth of health care costs and pass the savings onto individuals, employers and taxpayers.


I am honored to be your representative in Congress and I hope that my office can be a useful resource for you now and in the future. For more information, please visit my office online at www.HankJohnson.house.gov and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any future questions or concerns.