Participants show support for health insurance reform
HELENA, AR - Delta-area church-goers were greeted with a sea of hats and the color red when they arrived for services on this weekend as part of "Hats on for Health Care" Sunday. "Hats on" honors the tradition of older women wearing hats to Sunday service. On Sunday, August 30, their younger congregants joined them in wearing hats in honor of this southern tradition and in support of President Obama's health insurance reform. Men demonstrated their solidarity by wearing red, as their wives, sisters and mothers donned hats. At least 18 churches in Phillips and St. Francis Counties participated, with their congregations taking part by wearing a hat or wearing the color red to services on Sunday, demonstrating their support of health insurance reform currently being considered in Congress.
"The health care crisis has placed our community at risk and many Arkansans in our area lack access to health care," said Kenioun Williams, youth minister at Greater First Baptist in Helena. "Access to quality affordable health care should be a right, not a privilege. We live in the richest country in the world and need to do better for the least among us. Something must be done to control skyrocketing premiums, and the time is now to pass health insurance reform."
Premiums increase almost 6 times faster than wages
Health insurance premiums in Arkansas increased by 65.8 percent from 2000 to 2007, while median earnings only increased a mere 11.6 percent.[1] The median yearly wage in 2007 for Arkansas was only $22,692, but the average health care premium for a family was $10,534. This means that premiums grew 5.7 times faster than wages.
Without real reform, a comprehensive 10-year review of health care premiums shows that costs will continue to rise exponentially. [2] By 2019, the average health insurance premium for a family in Arkansas will be $19,575.
Health insurance reform will mean affordability, greater competition and more choices
The health insurance reform bills in the House and the Senate will lower costs for families by limiting excessive out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles and co-pays. Many families will be eligible for tax credits to help purchase health insurance - as currently proposed, up to 400% of poverty level, which is approximately $88,000 for a family of four in Arkansas.
Additionally, health insurance reform will hold insurance companies accountable - no more discrimination for pre-existing conditions, no yearly or lifetime caps of what insurance companies will cover, or dropping your coverage when you get sick.
Arkansans are making their voices heard in support of reform
Arkansans have been making their voices heard in support of health insurance reform - writing letter and making calls to our elected officials, attending town halls, and last Sunday, participating in "Hats on for Health Care."
Shirley Rose wore a hat to Zion's Travelers in Mellwood, and has made phone calls to Senator Blanche Lincoln's and Congressman Marion Berry's offices, voicing her support. "These are tough times - something needs to be done to fix our broken health care system. Our representatives in Congress need to know that Arkansans need affordable, quality health care," Ms. Rose said.
Arkansans have been joining together in SEIU Change That Works campaign to urge Senator Lincoln, Senator Pryor and other Members of Congress to pass health insurance reform. To date, volunteers knocking on doors, holding meetings, and phone banking have generated more than 6,000 hand-written letters and 3,000 phone calls to Arkansas's elected officials urging their support of health insurance reform.
Next Saturday, September 5th Arkansans from across the state will gather at 12:30 p.m. in Little Rock at the Sunken Plaza in the Riverfront Park to rally for health insurance reform.
[1] "Premiums vs. Paychecks: Arkansas," Published by Families USA, September, 2008
[2] "Health Care Premiums Run Amok," Center for American Progress, July 24, 2009
