Subject: Do You Support Health Coverage for All Children?
To: "Tom Love"
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 11:50 AM
October 21, 2008
Tom Love
PO Box 7231
Arlington, TX 76005-7231
Dear Mr. Love:
Nearly nine million children in America do not have health coverage and
millions more are underinsured. The majority of uninsured children live in
two-parent families; almost 90 percent have one working parent; and almost
90 percent are U.S. citizens. When working parents can't afford to take
their children to a doctor, it's clear the current system is not working.
This is why I am asking you to step forward and support comprehensive
health coverage for every child and pregnant woman in America in your
campaign and, if elected, in the 111th Congress.
We must act now. Health coverage is financially out of reach for too many
American families who are struggling to meet health care expenses that are
growing faster than wages and inflation. At the same time, health benefits
offered by employers are eroding. And the annual premium for group
coverage for a family of four is more than $12,000 per year.
To guarantee access to affordable health coverage for all children in
America for a year - including vision, dental, and mental health services
- would cost every American less than $1 per week. Business leaders and
national education organizations have joined this campaign, recognizing
that healthy children are tomorrow's graduates and our nation's future
workforce. America cannot afford to wait. Poor health negatively affects
children's educational achievement, which in turn prevents some children
from reaching their full potential and ultimately reduces America's
competitiveness.
Additionally, families without health coverage may postpone a doctor visit
for a sick child, hoping the child will get better without treatment. Some
of these families end up relying on emergency rooms for health care, which
may result in worse health outcomes for the child and higher costs to
local communities. Taxpayers subsidize these costs through higher premiums
and higher tax dollars.
Americans overwhelmingly support expanding health coverage for children.
National polls reveal that 90 percent of Americans believe every child in
the United States has the right to health care; 80 percent support
expanding eligibility for enrolling in government health insurance
programs to middle-class, uninsured children; and 70 percent are willing
to pay more taxes to make this happen.
As a child advocate and a supporter of the Children's Defense Fund Action
Council, I hope you will work to ensure that ALL children have access to
all the health care services they need by signing the Children's Defense
Fund Action Council® Pledge signifying your support for inclusion of the
following critical principles in any child health coverage legislation
considered in the 111th Congress: >> Ensuring every child and pregnant
woman has access to affordable health coverage and health services. >>
Guarantee all children and pregnant women comprehensive benefits, which
must include all medically necessary services. >> Simplify the
application
and enrollment process to make it easy for all children to get covered and
stay covered.
Please download this pledge today at www.childrensdefense.org/pledge. Your
commitment to children is a condition of my vote in November. Every step
we take to provide health coverage for all children, improves the lives of
all of us.
Sincerely,
Melisa Smith
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Reply
I sent this pledge in over a month ago. I believe Health Care is an essential service that all nations should enable their citizens to have. Please see my endocement of HealthCare in December 2007 as one of my main reasons for running
Tom
Tom Love Democratic Candidate for US Congress TX 24
www.TomLoveforTexas.com Ph#972-263-5630
Office Address:132 E Main St, Ste 110, Grand Prairie, TX 75050
Mailing Address:PO Box 7231,Arlington, TX 76005-7231
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