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The time is now: Get real healthcare reform done immediately, and get it right for kids and families!

As mothers, fathers, and advocates for families, we must all stand up and say we can't afford to miss this opportunity to reform our broken health care system. Send a letter to Congress telling them to get it done now and get it right for kids and families!

November 20, 2009

Subject:

Dear Legislator,

As one of over a million members of MomsRising, I am writing to urge you to get health reform done immediately, and get it right for kids and families.  All women and their families need coverage that delivers the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford, regardless of their employment or family status. For the millions of mothers who aren't eligible for job-based coverage because they work part-time or because they are full-time caregivers for their children, this need is especially critical. Successful health reform will include the following elements, each of which is critical for families and children:

1) A health insurance market that works for families, where insurance companies are no longer allowed to use unfair practices such as rejecting applicants based on health history, excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions, or setting insurance rates based on gender, health status, or age. A strong public insurance plan that competes on a level playing field with private plans is an essential component of that market.

2) Health reform should ensure that families have access to comprehensive health coverage that is affordable. All families need the peace of mind that comes with knowing that they are not one medical emergency or illness away from bankruptcy. Congress should ensure that families with moderate incomes have help with the cost of health coverage, and reasonable limits on out-of-pocket costs.

3) As stewards of our children's future, we must ensure that every child is covered in health reform and that health reform does not inadvertently make kids worse off under the reform plan than they are today. There should be additional efforts to make every child eligible for and enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, remove barriers to coverage and services, and a commitment to maintain the strength of those programs. For those children who are privately insured, benefit packages should be designed with the understanding that children are not just little adults; they need access to preventive care and supportive services, not just fix-it care when they get sick or injured. Finally, Congress should ensure that families can get adequate coverage for their children's dental and mental health needs: two areas where private insurance often falls short today.

These are big challenges, but meeting them is critical to the health of our children and families.  I look forward to hearing how you will lead the way on getting health reform done this year and getting it done right for kids and families.  Together, we can create a healthy and productive future for all of our nation's families.

Thank you,

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