A new national coalition of unions, community action groups, women's organizations and progressive think tanks kicked off a four-month blitz Tuesday with a single aim – to force the federal government to change the way healthcare is funded and delivered in the United States.
Health Care for America Now held simultaneous political rallies and press conferences in 52 cities, including 38 state capitals, and put a big target on the backs of candidates running for office in November. Between now and Election Day, the coalition intends to spend $25 million on national TV and print ads and force candidates to take a side on healthcare reform.
"The first order of business for our next president and Congress should be passing legislation that guarantees quality, affordable healthcare for all," said Alison Vander Zanden of the Maine People's Alliance, speaking on the steps of the Maine State House in Augusta. "People are coming together to say this is the year America decides – which side are you on?"
That question was a major talking point across all the rallies. In his blog on the coalition's Web site, campaign director Richard Kirsch wrote: "The insurance companies and their political allies will do everything they can to hold onto the profits they make by denying people care and shifting costs to families and businesses. Which is why we are drawing a sharp and deep line in the sand this year, in 2008, to get ready for winning healthcare in 2009. We’re asking America, Which side are you on? The side of quality affordable healthcare for all? Or the side of leaving us on our own to buy health insurance? That is the stark choice facing the nation."
While the coalition was clear in its choice of the enemy – private insurance companies – its members were less likely to fully describe the system they want to see replace the current one.
"We're not campaigning for a specific policy plan," said Vander Zanden. "We're looking for a uniquely American solution to the healthcare crisis that is truly affordable, that provides quality care, that controls cost and that is available to all."
She denied the group's favored solution is a Canadian-style single-payer healthcare system, saying the coalition's aim is a "uniquely American" system that would provide the option of either public or private insurance.
The coalition claims a $40 million budget and plans to field 100 organizers in 45 states. The campaign’s steering committee includes ACORN, AFSCME, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn, NEA, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, UFCW and USAction.
Perhaps not coincidentally, the main association of health insurance companies, AHIP, announced its own campaign Tuesday to provide healthcare coverage to the more than 40 million uninsured Americans and lay the groundwork for universal coverage in America.
AHIP also claimed its solution was uniquely American and would combine both public and private elements.
"We ... intend to make a significant contribution to the national discussion of how to blend public and private strategies to achieve a uniquely American solution that can work and be enacted," said Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of AHIP. "We advocate providing coverage for all Americans by repairing the safety net and providing a helping hand to working families and small business owners who are struggling to afford coverage."
Health Care for America Now representatives scoffed at so-called reform efforts such as AHIP's.
"We're not talking about 'reform' plans that offer tax credits that pay for only a fraction of people's real healthcare costs," said Vander Zanden. "When more and more of us are struggling to pay our bills, the insurance companies are recording record profits."
- Additional reporting by Diana Manos