It's a crisis. And it's not going to get better: between 1998 and 2008, the average annual family premium increased by 119 percent. The cost of insurance, on average, is $5,000 for a single plan and $13,000 for a family plan. Even for people whose income is at 300% of the federal poverty level (about $32,500 for a single person without children, or $66,000 for a couple with two children) that's between 15 and 20 percent of total income.
In our current economic downturn, when working families are already struggling to afford car payments, gas, and groceries, the outrageous cost of healthcare has become an unbearable burden. Our system is failing, and we need rescue now.
RSVP to our Emergency Drive Here
That's why we're hitting the road for 11 days in an ambulance to save Montana's middle class with our Emergency Drive. We'll be touring 24 towns, including rural areas, to connect with local Montanans about two important issues: affordable heath care and labor law reform.
In Great Falls, nurses will volunteer and provide free health care screenings. In Havre, we'll host an ice cream social at Pepin Park. In Poplar, the ambulance will visit the local powwow. At other stops, volunteers will canvass to support health care reform and the Employee Free Choice Act. Other events will include letter writing campaigns, BBQs, and free giveaways. We'll end up in Missoula on Aug 8, 24 towns later, having convinced our fellow Montanans about the importance of rebuilding our middle class.
Find a location on the drive near you: http://action.seiu.org/emergencydrive
Let's get off the life support system of mounting debt and medical bills, and revive Montana's middle class through reforming our health care system and labor law. Our families deserve quality health care coverage. We deserve not to have our jobs outsourced to foreign markets. We deserve to have our small businesses protected from the high cost of providing their employees health care.
And most importantly, we can no longer afford to wait. Join our Emergency Drive and learn what you can do to pump life back into Montana's middle class.
You can follow us on our map as we go through the state. Just click on a purple flag marker to RSVP to an event near you. Once our drive has passed through your town, click again to see pictures, videos, and read about how you helped us resuscitate our middle class. And if you hear a siren, remember: We're coming to help you!
View Emergency Drive for Montana's Middle Class in a larger map
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