Tell President Obama "no trigger" for public option! (MoveOn) Send comments to White House!

[HughMoran]

Dear MoveOn member,

Recent news reports are saying that White House negotiators are considering a public option "trigger" in health care reform—a favorite idea of conservatives that would postpone the public health insurance option for years or eliminate it entirely.
We can't afford to wait for real health care reform. Can you submit a comment on the White House comment page urging President Obama to say no to the "trigger"?

Click here to submit your comment (takes you to WH "Contact Us" page):

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51843&id=17165-3949571-YJYVr9x&t=2

During negotiations on major bills like this, different proposals are often floated to gauge public reaction. So we need to respond quickly to make sure the "trigger" doesn't gain traction.

The trigger would make the creation of a public option dependent on whether insurance companies, years in the future, met a series of conditions—rather than creating one now.

In truth, the "trigger" is a trap to kill health care reform. Even if the "trigger" conditions are met years from now, big insurance companies will start the fight all over again to stop the public option from going into effect.

And as Senator Charles Schumer has pointed out, "any reasonable criteria for triggering a public plan has already been met" because insurance companies have already failed to rein in costs and expand coverage.2 The need for real reform was "triggered" long ago.

Meanwhile, without a strong public health insurance option to compete with private insurance companies, health care costs will continue to skyrocket and millions will remain uninsured.3

Can you submit a comment on the White House comment page urging President Obama to say no to the "trigger?" Click here to submit your comment:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51843&id=17165-3949571-YJYVr9x&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Justin, Wes, Kat, and the rest of the team


Here's my comment:

Dear Mr. President,

I am sending you this urgent note regarding the public option (healthcare reform) - I want to make clear that setting a "trigger" for the inception of the public option will ensure that we never see it implemented, and you know it. The insurance industry will do whatever it has to on order to meet the goals set forth in the trigger, at the same time figuring new ways to screw their "customers". In addition, as soon as the pressure is off to meet certain targets, they will immediately start, once again, creating anxiety for their customers to ensure that the patient knows that it will once again be more stressful to seek treatment than to just "stay home and suffer". Do NOT trust the insurance companies - the only way to do this is to have a public option kick in at the allotted time. The insurance companies will have plenty of time to adapt before hand, but will never adapt if they think they can simply pass a "test" that they WILL learn to CHEAT on (and you know it - it's happened 100% of the time - just look at tax laws.)

Oh, and call it insurance reform if you must, but we desperately need healthcare reform in this country. I could tell you countess stories of how they "lost" faxes for "out of network" coverage or kicked my ex-wife off my plan illegally without notice and knew I couldn't fight it as my employer was involved and I would be perceived as a malcontent. These insurance companies cannot be reformed. They need REAL competition from a non-profit governmental organization. It's been far too long - I'm literally sick and tired of feeling like it's not worth attending to my health issues due to the cure being more harmful (anxiety producing) than just living with the pain. This is the most important issue of our times - please don't be cajoled by a few people in marginal districts - this issue is bigger than simple political calculation. I'm counting on you to do the right thing.

XXXXX XXXXXXXX
XXXX XX

[joeycola]

1. off to the Greatest.

[HughMoran]

2. :o)

Now please flood President Obama with letters like mine - tell them not to play politics with our health!

[joeycola]

3. I have and will send out to my email list.

[HughMoran]

9. Good on you!

Now is the time - full throttle!

[flamingdem]

4. No triggers, no BS nt

[panader0]

5. Thanks for the link

My first letter to the president.

[HughMoran]

6. What better time than now?

If there ever was a time to let the President know how we feel on this issue, it's now!

[Eric J in MN]

7. Done. NT

NT

[skipos]

8. I can't imagine the amount of emails they get, so I kept it simple.

:kick:

[jannyk]

10. Done. nt

[Greybnk48]

11. The "trigger" on credit card reform has worked beautifully

:sarcasm: It gave them a year to milk card holders dry with sky high interest, changes in due dates and subsequent fines, and lowered limits and subsequent fines for exceeding limits. Way to go. And thanks for nothing.

By the time the reform goes into effect, the credit card industry will be dead.

[HughMoran]

12. Like a charm

:eyes:

[alfredo]

13. What if:

The trigger had very stiff requirements and failure to meet those requirements means going to plan B: Medicare for all and the repeal of McCarron-Ferguson.


Repeal McCarron-Furguson Now!!!

[spartan61]

14. My e-mail

President Obama,
I supported you all through your long campaign. I can't tell you how many miles I walked canvassing for you or hours spent phone banking on your behalf. I want to continue supporting you but will find it impossible if you drop the public option or add a "trigger." America has been waiting for universal healthcare since the Truman administration. Please don't let down the American people who donated to you, supported you in every way, and expect you to keep your promise of healthcare reform. Not just reform, but one that has a public option for competition with no trigger. We are counting on you.

[HughMoran]

16. Nice letter

I hope all those K&Ring are also submitting letters.

[David Zephyr]

15. Enthusiastic K&R.

The ONLY thing at this point that will stop Obama from cutting the deal he wants to with the Insurance Cartel is the progressive block in the House of Representatives. If these nearly 100 individuals tell Obama that they will not vote for his shitty bill after it returns from House/Senate committee for final approval, then Obama can't have his show-horse victory without a lot of Republicans coming on board.

Progressives have the power to shut this thing down if Obama pushes this shit any further.

This is great news from MoveOn!

K&R.

[HughMoran]

17. Let's see some more letters posted

I know we're serious about this reform issue - let's let them know that during crunch-time we are engaged and highly motivated for reform.

[HughMoran]

18. Apparently pissing and moaning is more popular

than a popular progressive organization asking us to DO SOMETHING to prevent what everyone is PISSING and MOANING about in every other post. I've never felt worse about DU until this week. A lot of people are showing their true selves and it's NOT pretty. :(

[andym]

19. Done. KandR n/t

[Creena]

20. Can someone help?

I talk about my situation with social workers so much that I never know if I say too much or not enough. Does anyone have suggestions? This is all I have:

I'm 24. Since I graduated high school, I have cared for my mother who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis. Due to the requirements of her care, I don't work or attend school.

I suffer from von Willebrand's disease, a clotting disorder. Because my mom's income goes to our bills and her medical coverage, she cannot afford to pay for my health insurance, even if the insurance companies did not refuse me for my condition. But, our income happens to disqualify us for Medicaid.

I don't need help in a few years. I need help now!

[HughMoran]

21. I think that looks good

You're getting the point across about how much we (you) need healthcare reform. Send President Obama the message!

[WyoHiker]

22. Dual Triggers

I am in favor of a trigger that unconditionally starts the robust, for-real, effective, efficient Public Option after a clearly defined period of time of not more than 3 years, a so-called Hard Trigger, while keeping the current the current trigger in play during that time, making it possible to start the option earlier if the insurance companies behave badly in their new market. (I don't want them raking in lots of cash only to intentionally fold when the public option comes into play.)

I am willing to wait up to 3 years MAX for a guaranteed public option if that's what it takes to get the public option passed.

Are you?

[HughMoran]

23. That sounds like a plan.

I like your plan - let's go with that.