Health Insurance update

So, the Senate Finance Committee finally passed their version of health care reform. Well, just one Republican't voted in favor of it. But it did pass.

This means we move forward with the legislation.

Actually the Finance Committee version stinks for the following reasons:

1. It taxes healthcare benefits, potentially impacting thousands of USW members with higher-cost plans. These plans could be expensive because they cover older workers, workers with worse than average health histories or even because of a geographic area. While the tax is levied on insurers, or self-insured employers, the cost will undoubtedly be passed on to workers in the form of higher premiums.
2. It doesn’t include a public option. A public option – like in the House bill – would provide real competition for private insurance companies.
3. Employers are not required to contribute in some way towards employees’ healthcare, allowing irresponsible employers to continue dumping their healthcare costs on others with no penalty.
   

Senator Bayh from Indiana is the guy we need to give some encouragement to.

Please write to him or call him and tell him to do the right thing when the final bill comes up for a vote.

We need the public option.