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New Mexican families’ health insurance premiums increased 118 percent in the past year, with an annual employer-sponsored premium at $13,375 – a 5.5 percent hike when inflation fell 0.7 percent during the recession, joining every other U.S. state where wages are not increasing to meet the need.
"The status quo of rising premiums is simply unsustainable," said Vice President Joe Biden Sept. 22, "for families, for businesses, for state budgets, and for our national economy.
“The State Insurance Commissioners understand firsthand the health care crisis - and are fighting every day to combat it and reduce unjustified premium increases.
“But these numbers are just one more piece of evidence that the need for nationwide reform is urgent.”
GOP resistors and the Blues Dog ‘Democrats’ are fighting the healthcare reform that should be treated as urgently as the Wall Street crisis. Unfortunately, it has become a partisan political stand-down.
Even the White House’s best-case scenario won’t start until 2013 – Wonder how many more Americans will die in during that four year as this crumbling health-care system continues.
(Thank God I am a veteran with the Veterans Affairs – the best ‘socialized’ medicine program in the world – caring for me.)
While President Barack Obama has gathered a consensus of health-care professionals, industry representatives, and citizens for his plan, he speaks out against the Senate (read GOP) intentional blocks, “working to score political points, even when it means burdening our country with an unsustainable status quo … of rising health-care costs, diminished coverage and arbitrary decisions by big insurance companies.”
During weekend political TV commentaries, the GOP was accused of providing its alternative that caters directly to the “big insurance companies,” and out-of-control pharmaceuticals that are making billions every year on the backs of elderly, and sick Americans.
So, it is time for every American to push for the public health option that ensures the four fundamentals that Obama has promised: health-care for everyone, no changes to Medicare coverage for seniors, if you like your coverage now, you will not have to change it, and holding companies accountable for the money-making schemes that have literally killed millions over generations.
Democrats have been trying for 60 years to get health-care reform. This is the time. The opportunity is now, and our legislators work for us. Contact yours and ensure they vote for real reform.
