"You Are NOT Alone!"
Letter I received today (3-24-10) from Chris Carney...form letter that is!!!
Dear Wayne,
Thank you for your message regarding health insurance reform. Hearing from the people of northeast and central Pennsylvania is an integral part of my job in Congress and I appreciate you taking the time to contact me.
The debate about how to reform our health insurance system, with good reason, has been passionate and at times contentious. Over the past several months, I have traveled throughout Northeast and Central Pennsylvania , listening to people on all sides of this issue. Last year, I held town halls in each of the 10th District's 14 counties, met with constituents, and read hundreds of pieces of mail. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent by groups from across the political spectrum to influence how we here in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania think about health insurance reform.
This debate began with Republican President Theodore Roosevelt more than a century ago and has continued ever since. And what President Dwight D. Eisenhower said in 1955 still rings true: "Two fundamental problems confront us: first, high and ever-rising costs of health services; second, serious gaps and shortages in these services."
I supported the health insurance reform legislation because the cost of inaction is too great and because, no matter what the scare tactics would have us believe, these measures bring down costs and improve access to quality healthcare.
As a cancer survivor, I am fortunate that my treatment was covered and that I can still get insurance. But I hear every day from individuals who can't get covered because of their "pre-existing conditions." This bill ends that problem. Those who cannot get insurance because they have a so-called "pre-existing condition" will be able to get coverage. Also, the many families whose employers provide coverage will be able to keep their current plans.
Time and again, I have heard from small businesses that skyrocketing healthcare costs are their biggest concern. Small businesses will be eligible for a tax credit to make coverage more affordable. There will be help for businesses with workers who have been uninsured for months, or denied a policy based on "pre-existing conditions." A high risk pool will offer insurance and assistance to help pay premiums to cover those workers. The legislation prevents insurance companies from charging more because of an employee's health status, protecting our small businesses from unreasonable rate increases.
Many benefits of the legislation will be implemented almost immediately. This year, seniors who have seen their prescription drug costs soar will receive a $250 rebate to begin closing the prescription drug "donut hole." This loophole will eventually close completely, protecting 11,500 seniors in our district. Young adults who can't find affordable insurance on their own will be able to stay on their parents' plan until the age of 26. This bill bars insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick and prevents insurers from placing lifetime limits on benefits. Preventive care will be covered by both private insurers and Medicare without co-payments.
This bill also rightly continues the longstanding ban on public funding for abortion, a factor that weighed heavily on my mind when considering this legislation. I played a central role in helping to broker an agreement between the White House and pro-life members of the Democratic caucus. As a result, the White House agreed to issue an Executive Order ensuring that the health insurance reform legislation continues the longstanding ban on federal funding for abortion under the Hyde Amendment. In addition, insurers will be required to cover maternity care, a critical step to ensure the health of mothers and unborn children.
All Americans will be able to have the same insurance choices enjoyed by Members of Congress and their families. For those who cannot afford health insurance because costs have climbed too high, this bill provides tax credits that amount to the largest middle class tax cut for health care in American history.
Our nation has grappled with the effects of skyrocketing healthcare costs for decades. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the health insurance reform bill will reduce the deficit by $143 billion over the first decade after enactment and by $1.2 trillion over the second. This bill also extends Medicare's solvency for an additional nine years.
I agree with many voters who are fed up with the hyper-partisanship we see in Washington . That's why I'm one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress. I vote for your interests and not to please Democratic leaders, the White House or my Republican friends. As a Commander in the Navy Reserve, I've dedicated my career to serving this country with honor and integrity. I stood with the people of Northeast and Central Pennsylvania in supporting health insurance reform.
Thank you again for contacting me and please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Christopher P. Carney
Member of Congress
Thank you for your message regarding health insurance reform. Hearing from the people of northeast and central Pennsylvania is an integral part of my job in Congress and I appreciate you taking the time to contact me.
The debate about how to reform our health insurance system, with good reason, has been passionate and at times contentious. Over the past several months, I have traveled throughout Northeast and Central Pennsylvania , listening to people on all sides of this issue. Last year, I held town halls in each of the 10th District's 14 counties, met with constituents, and read hundreds of pieces of mail. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent by groups from across the political spectrum to influence how we here in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania think about health insurance reform.
This debate began with Republican President Theodore Roosevelt more than a century ago and has continued ever since. And what President Dwight D. Eisenhower said in 1955 still rings true: "Two fundamental problems confront us: first, high and ever-rising costs of health services; second, serious gaps and shortages in these services."
I supported the health insurance reform legislation because the cost of inaction is too great and because, no matter what the scare tactics would have us believe, these measures bring down costs and improve access to quality healthcare.
As a cancer survivor, I am fortunate that my treatment was covered and that I can still get insurance. But I hear every day from individuals who can't get covered because of their "pre-existing conditions." This bill ends that problem. Those who cannot get insurance because they have a so-called "pre-existing condition" will be able to get coverage. Also, the many families whose employers provide coverage will be able to keep their current plans.
Time and again, I have heard from small businesses that skyrocketing healthcare costs are their biggest concern. Small businesses will be eligible for a tax credit to make coverage more affordable. There will be help for businesses with workers who have been uninsured for months, or denied a policy based on "pre-existing conditions." A high risk pool will offer insurance and assistance to help pay premiums to cover those workers. The legislation prevents insurance companies from charging more because of an employee's health status, protecting our small businesses from unreasonable rate increases.
Many benefits of the legislation will be implemented almost immediately. This year, seniors who have seen their prescription drug costs soar will receive a $250 rebate to begin closing the prescription drug "donut hole." This loophole will eventually close completely, protecting 11,500 seniors in our district. Young adults who can't find affordable insurance on their own will be able to stay on their parents' plan until the age of 26. This bill bars insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick and prevents insurers from placing lifetime limits on benefits. Preventive care will be covered by both private insurers and Medicare without co-payments.
This bill also rightly continues the longstanding ban on public funding for abortion, a factor that weighed heavily on my mind when considering this legislation. I played a central role in helping to broker an agreement between the White House and pro-life members of the Democratic caucus. As a result, the White House agreed to issue an Executive Order ensuring that the health insurance reform legislation continues the longstanding ban on federal funding for abortion under the Hyde Amendment. In addition, insurers will be required to cover maternity care, a critical step to ensure the health of mothers and unborn children.
All Americans will be able to have the same insurance choices enjoyed by Members of Congress and their families. For those who cannot afford health insurance because costs have climbed too high, this bill provides tax credits that amount to the largest middle class tax cut for health care in American history.
Our nation has grappled with the effects of skyrocketing healthcare costs for decades. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the health insurance reform bill will reduce the deficit by $143 billion over the first decade after enactment and by $1.2 trillion over the second. This bill also extends Medicare's solvency for an additional nine years.
I agree with many voters who are fed up with the hyper-partisanship we see in Washington . That's why I'm one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress. I vote for your interests and not to please Democratic leaders, the White House or my Republican friends. As a Commander in the Navy Reserve, I've dedicated my career to serving this country with honor and integrity. I stood with the people of Northeast and Central Pennsylvania in supporting health insurance reform.
Thank you again for contacting me and please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Christopher P. Carney
Member of Congress
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