Hartford, CT -- Today, Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) and other allies, under the banner of the Health Care for America Now campaign, staged a march and demonstration that started at Union Train Station, proceeded to the CT Business and Industry Association, and ended at the State Capitol with a visit to Governor Jodi Rell. The roving rally was part of the Health Care for America Now (HCAN) Campaign which is holding similar events in 45 states in the next few months to highlight the need for quality, affordable health care for all Americans.
“In 2009, we will either have a guarantee of quality, affordable health care we all can count on or we will continue to be at the mercy of the private health insurance industry that is charging us more, giving us less and putting company profits before our health,” said Phil Sherwood, Deputy Director, CCAG. “Here in Connecticut and in communities all across the country, we’re asking one question, ‘Which side are you on?’ Are you on the side of quality, affordable health care for all? Or are you on the side of being left alone to fend for yourself in a complicated, bureaucratic insurance market? It is time that Governor Rell decides which side she is on.”
The demonstrators targeted CBIA because they are seen as the state’s most powerful opponents to quality affordable health care. CBIA sells health insurance and actively lobbies against citizen efforts aimed at improving quality and protecting consumer rights. “It’s high-time that we give the power of health care decisions back to the patients and doctors and take it away from CBIA,” Sherwood added.
Some facts about the insurance industry in Connecticut:
- The annual profits of Anthem Health Plans (the state’s Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee and a WellPoint subsidiary), Health Net of Connecticut, and Oxford Health Plans of Connecticut (a member of UnitedHealth Group) rose between 2004 and 2007.
- In 2004, Health Net lost $1.15 million, but it brought in profits of over $52.4 million in 2005, approximately $293,000 in 2006, and $10.2 million in 2007. Meanwhile, its membership fell steadily, with a 24.6 percent decline from 2004 to 2007.
- Anthem’s profits increased by 33.3 percent, and its membership dropped by 8.9 percent. More dramatically, Oxford’s profits grew by 59.4 percent, while its membership declined by 38.6 percent. With net income of $225.8 million (and the highest membership), Anthem led the three in profits in 2007. That year, the three insurers posted combined profits of $251.1 million.¹
“It’s time to shine a spotlight on the fact that the health insurance industry continues to put profits over people,” said Sherwood. “Here in Hartford, we are in the belly of the beast and we know that the last people we can trust to fix the health care mess are insurance companies. The people of Connecticut need real solutions that bring quality, affordable health care for all, not more rhetoric from the health insurance industry who claims to be part of the solution, but whom we all know is really the problem.”
Two weeks ago, Health Care for America Now launched with events in Ohio and 52 cities (including 38 state capitals) across the country. Between now and election day, the group plans to spend $25 million in paid media and have 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.org, NEA, National Council of La Raza, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, UFCW, and USAction.
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