Community Alert!
Tomorrow morning, Monday, June 3, 2013, starting at 9:30am, there will be a Rally to provided significant encouragement for the DC Council to pass the "Better Prices, Better Quality, Better Choices for Health Coverage Amendment Act of 2013," sent to the Council by Mayor Gray, so that the DC Health Benefits Exchange can start here in the District of Columbia, and be available for all the residents and small businesses in DC who are in need of health coverage.
It seems the insurance industry is applying some "serious" pressure on some of our Councilmembers to vote against this bill and delay the implementation of this program for two (2) years. The new Health Exchange will not only benefit low income residents. Most importantly, middle income individuals and families who are definitely in need of some relief from the high cost of premiums and no coverage due to pre-exisitng conditions. The same for the many small businesses here struggling to pay or not providing health coverage due to the high costs.
Pls see the Rally information below, with the 2 different fliers attached. I know this is short notice, but please share with your family, friends and on other listservs to get the word out. Whether you have a 1/2 hr, 1 hour or more, we need to turn out to support this important effort in providing health benefits to all in DC that want it!
Don't let the health insurance dictate what DC residents and small businesses should be entitled to, no matter that the Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress! Residents and business owners are from DC and all over the country. We have the right to be engaged in this program. The insurance industry should not be allowed to come in DC and dictate to our elected officials when, how and where we should implement this program. It is the other way around!
We must be United on this Issue! Tahnks!
Albrette "Gigi" Ransom
_______________________________
HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE DAY AT THE COUNCIL
ONE CITY … ONE MARKET
Sponsored by
"The Coalition in Support of HBX"
Overview: After months of hard work, discussion, collaboration and consensus by various community, healthcare and business leaders and residents from across the District, the DC Health Benefit Exchange (HBX) Authority unanimously approved a set of rules that will govern the sale of health insurance in the District. This includes:
Strong consumer protections
Investments in improving the health of our residents,
and
A transparent and competitive insurance marketplace
designed to force insurance companies to compete for
your business.
These policies are now before the DC City Council in the form of the "Better Prices, Better Quality, Better Choices for Health Coverage Amendment Act of 2013," sent to the Council by Mayor Gray.
Opponents of this plan are now lobbying the Council to make changes to the legislation that would delay full implementation of the plan, undermine the strength of the Marketplace and allow insurers to continue charging high prices with little or no accountability. These same opponents want to preserve the status quo, avoid the transparency that forces competition and delay full implementation of one big market place.
Any delay in implementation would be detrimental to the residents and small business owners in DC. We can't afford to wait! We can't afford to delay the opportunity for health coverage. We must act now! We must urge the Council to approve this legislation as originally requested with no delay in implementation. President Obama's health care law, which was enacted more than three years ago, must be implemented in the District.
We must join together to make sure the City Council approves the DC Exchange legislation as introduced so that, finally, people living in the District can have access to high-quality, affordable coverage to improve their health and lives.
The opposition wants to have two insurance markets in the District so that insurance companies can sell one kind of insurance in one market and another outside that market. This will perpetuate the kind of marketing tactics that divide our community and drive costs up for all of us. They may have bigger wallets but we have something they don't have:
UNITY, PASSION, AND LOUD VOICES!
Join us for DC Health Benefit Exchange Day (HBX) at the Council and let our voices be heard. We need:
One City, One Market: Health Insurance for ALL
Goals: (1). to demonstrate the need to support a strong DC Health Benefit Exchange that puts
people first, and
(2). to urge Councilmembers to support the HBX one big marketplace legislative package as is
without delay.
Date: Monday, June 3, 2013
9:30 am - Meet with HBX staff at John A. Wilson Building; Room-G9 (1350 PA Ave., NW)
10:00 am - Rally in support of the HBX on the front steps of Wilson Building steps
10:45 am - Visit Councilmember offices
The Coalition of Supporters Include: Faith Leaders, Patient advocates, Health care providers, Community Based Organizations, Health Policy Advocates, Small Business Owners, Professional Associations, Unions, Young Invincibles, Residents, etc.
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Wharton-Boyd, Linda (DCHBX)" <Linda.Wharton-Boyd@dc.gov>
To: "'gigifor5c12@yahoo.com'" <gigifor5c12@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2013 4:39 PM
Subject: Rally Information
Please see the attached….Linda Wharton Boyd, Ph.D.External Affairs and Stakeholder EngagementDC Health Benefit ExchangeOne Judiciary Square441 4th Street, NW – Suite 870 NWashington, DC 20001(202) 741.5201 – office(202) 351.9777 - cellPlay DC is an ambitious program to renovate 32 District play spaces across the city and improve your quality of life.
Click here for more information on this DPR and DGS-driven initiative.
