Universal Health Care Foundation unveils comprehensive health reform plan

The Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut released its plan for health care reform on January 13, 2009 at a rally held at Union Station in Hartford. The room was packed with about 1,000 people from advocacy groups, labor unions, religious organizations and other groups. There were also quite a few legislators there, including President of the Senate Don Williams, Speaker of the House Chris Donovan, and Co-chair of the Public Health Committee Jonathan Harris (who all said a few words in support of the plan). It reminded me of the healthcare4every1 rally held in Bushnell Park a few years ago and it was exciting to be in the company of so many like-minded people who believe in health care reform.
The plan, called SustiNet, would eventually be opened to all CT residents but would start by creating a pool with state employees and retirees, and people covered under the HUSKY and SAGA medical programs. Eventually others will be able to buy into the plan, including: people who don’t have access to insurance from an employer, people whose employer-based insurance doesn’t provide affordable access to health care, and employers (starting with small businesses, nonprofits and municipalities and eventually including any CT employer).
SustiNet would offer affordable and comprehensive health coverage as well as coverage for residents without regard to job changes, pre-existing conditions, self employment or divorce. The plan also will have more coordination of patient care, more competitive reimbursement rates for doctors, and extensive use of electronic medical records. The healthcare4every1 Campaign will work this year to raise support for the plan with the legislature and the Governor and urge them to adopt it into law. “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane.” --Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jen Ramirez