About Stand Up For Health Care

The debate over health care in the United States has been raging for decades, yet there are still nearly 50 million Americans who lack health insurance and millions more at the mercy of big insurance companies that are cutting benefits and denying care to those who need it most.

Now, as President Obama has repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to health care and a growing public demand for reform, affordable health care for all is finally a reality. But this can only happen with a strong, nationwide movement -- and that's why we've created Stand Up for Health Care.

Stand Up for Health Care empowers ordinary Americans with the knowledge and opportunity to become leaders in the movement for health care reform. This project cuts through the dense statistics, the spin and confusion, and explains the issues clearly and giving you the chance to put that knowledge into action. It's time we stop talking about better health care and actually make it happen.

Stand Up for Health Care is a project of Families USA, a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Working at the national, state and community levels, we have earned a national reputation as an effective voice for health care consumers for 25 years.

Critical Elements of Health Reform

This year may offer the best chance in nearly two decades for bold action in response to the growing health care crisis. If President Obama and Congress seize this opportunity, what should they do with it? What should health care consumers expect from our elected leaders?

So far Washington has taken steps towards comprehensive reform by renewing the State Children’s Health Insure Program (CHIP) and including subsidies for COBRA and other health care provisions in the Economic Recovery and Reimbursement Act.

Families USA believes the following should also be included in health care reform legislation:

• A new alternative offering individuals and businesses a place to buy guaranteed affordable, high quality health insurance-either through private plans or a public plan option.
• Sliding scale subsidies, to make coverage affordable for working families
• Strong rules that hold insurance companies accountable and make sure that they play fair, no matter where you live or if you have a pre-existing condition.
• Adoption of practices that improve the doctor and patient relationship to enhance quality and value.
• Promotion of innovations like electronic medical records and electronic prescribing.
• Initiatives to promote prevention and wellness.