Tell Congress: a Public Plan Works Support is growing for health care reform in America, but reformers must not forget that real reform MUST include a public plan option. A public plan option for health care is the most logical, fiscally sound solution to improving health care in our country. Take Action Now: Use the Simple Form Below to Urge Your members of Congress to Learn from Medicare and Support a Public Health Care Plan A Public Plan Offers Stability A public plan would be available to any eligible person, anywhere in the country. Private plans limit networks, providers, and services they offer. A public plan would offer a far more secure and stable source of health care coverage for broad portions of the population. A Public Plan Costs Less Administrative costs in America's current public health care plan, Traditional Medicare, are around 2%. Costs for private Medicare Advantage plans are almost 17%. The dollars saved in administrative costs by a public plan can be used for direct health care, or to offer a less costly overall health care package. A Public Plan Has Leverage Because of the broad reach of a public plan, it would be able to negotiate lower volume discounts from providers and drug manufacturers. Also, no need for profit means lower costs and lower premiums. This would force competing private plans to operate more efficiently as well. A Public Plan Works 80% of people with traditional Medicare, are either "extremely" or "very satisfied" with their health care coverage and with access to their physicians; a much higher rate than that of 50- to 64-year-olds with private insurance.  Use the simple form below to send your message, then help us spread the word. >>Learn More

November 21, 2009 Subject: Dear For more than 40 years, millions of Americans have enjoyed the benefits of a public health insurance plan – it’s called Medicare, and it works. As the debate over national health care heats up, we need to be sure that it includes a public plan. Before Medicare was created in 1965, poverty and ill health were all too common among older Americans. More than 50% of people over 65 had no health insurance. Private insurance failed to meet their needs. But in 1965, our elected officials finally did something to help. They stood up against powerful insurance companies and enacted Medicare, which has been a huge success. It increased the number of insured older adults to 95%. And in 1972, Medicare coverage was extended to people with significant disabilities. The rate of poverty among the elderly has declined as a result of Medicare. Furthermore, Medicare helps keep families economically secure and helps people live longer and healthier lives. When deciding on health care reform, remember what we've learned from Medicare! -- A public plan would be available to any eligible person, anywhere in the country. Private plans limit networks, providers, and services they offer. A public plan would offer a far more secure and stable source of health care coverage for broad portions of the population. -- Administrative costs in America's current public health care plan, traditional Medicare, are around 2%. Costs for private, so-called Medicare Advantage plans are almost 17%. The dollars saved in administrative costs by a public plan can be used for direct health care, or to offer a less costly overall health care package. -- Because of the broad reach of a public plan, it would be able to negotiate lower volume discounts from providers and drug manufacturers. Also, no need for profit means lower costs and lower premiums. This would force competing private plans to operate more efficiently as well. -- 80% of people with traditional Medicare, are either "extremely" or "very satisfied" with their health care coverage and with access to their physicians; a much higher rate than that of 50- to 64-year-olds with private insurance. A public plan option for health care is the most logical, fiscally sound solution to improving health care in our country. Please make sure that health care reform is REAL reform. We will add your signature from the information you provide.		First Name* Last Name* Email* Street* Street 2 City* State/Province* Select a state Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware D.C. Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Armed Forces (the) Americas Armed Forces Europe Armed Forces Pacific Alberta British Columbia Manitoba Newfoundland New Brunswick Nova Scotia Northwest Territories Nunavut Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Territory Other Zip/Postal Code* Send an Email