Issue Position: Universal Health Care

Issue Position

A Leader on Health Care Reform

Since coming to Congress in 1993, Lynn Woolsey has been an unyielding and tenacious advocate for comprehensive health care reform that covers all Americans. It was her relentlessness, together with her fellow progressives, that provided the momentum for a historic landmark reform bill to pass in March of this year.

Lynn is a long-time advocate of a single-payer approach, believing that is the fairest, most affordable and most efficient way to guarantee health coverage to every American. When it became evident that single-payer was not on the table, she insisted on a public option that would be linked to Medicare, a provision that was included in the House version of the health care bill.

Although the final legislation signed by President Obama did not have a public option, health care reform is one of the most important domestic policy achievements of the last 50 years. It will bring health and economic security to American families, while curbing the excesses of the special interests and providing a framework for further improvements.

No longer will insurance companies be able to deny coverage based on a pre-existing condition. The bill guarantees access to quality coverage in a competitive health insurance market, even if you lose your job, switch jobs, or open your own business. It does away with annual and lifetime limits. And it will also strengthen the Medicare program and lower prescription drug costs while helping reduce the federal budget deficit.

Lynn had a strong hand in making sure health care reform was the best possible deal for the American people. Her work helped strengthen the affordability provisions and improved Medicaid payments to primary care physicians. She also helped close a loophole that would have allowed some employer insurance plans to avoid market reforms that benefit patients and families.

In the 6th Congressional District alone, health care reform will have a far-reaching impact. It will:

* Improve employer-based coverage for 419,000 residents;

* Provide coverage for 42,000 previously uninsured residents;

* Improve Medicare for 101,000 beneficiaries, including closing the Medicare Part D Doughnut Hole for 12,800 seniors;

* Provide credits to help pay for coverage for up to 121,000 households, and 20,400 small businesses;

* Guarantee that 10,000 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage;

* Protect up to 800 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs; and

* Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by $45 million annually.

Lynn believes that, as much progress as we've now made toward fixing a broken system, we can do even better. She will soon introduce legislation -- already signed by more than 100 of her colleagues -- that revives the public option, which will compete with private plans to bring down the cost of health insurance and give patients the choice between a public or private plan. She will support states having the option to establish a single-payer system. She will continue to work with her colleagues to build on the reforms passed this year. She will continue to be an outspoken voice for quality, accessible, affordable health care for all.

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