Legislative Letter Dear Representative Boucher

Legislative Letter

Dear Representative Boucher

I would like to thank you for your concern for our nation's health and the care that is being provided. I am writing today to urge you to support Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962. This legislation will extend health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured persons, thereby helping to ensure that most Americans have quality, affordable coverage.

It will require most employers to share in the responsibility for financing health care coverage, either by providing coverage directly to their workers or by contributing a meaningful amount to pay for most of the costs of their coverage. It will provide substantial subsidies to help make coverage more affordable for middle income families, and expand Medicaid to guarantee that coverage will be affordable for lower income persons. It will help employers and other entities continue coverage for pre-Medicare retirees, thereby providing greater protection for this vulnerable population. It will implement insurance market reforms to prevent individuals from being denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. It will reform the delivery and provider payment systems, and creating a national exchange to facilitate coverage in a cost-effective manner and it will establish a public insurance option to ensure there is adequate competition in all areas of the country (Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962, 2009).

Americans living without health insurance is at an all time high and if we don't reform the health system, up to 66 million could be uninsured by 2019 and health care costs will continue to rise (Coverage: Mapping Health Care Coverage in 2019, 2009). This is an every growing problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

As a nurse it is very important to me to see that all people who need healthcare have access to it. In order for our nation to be healthy it is important that everyone have access to affordable health care.