The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that quality, affordable health care should be available to all U.S. residents. Other U.S. health-care policy goals should include the equitable distribution of services, efficient and economical delivery of care, advancement of medical research and technology, and a reasonable total national expenditure level for health care. Furthermore, the League believes that all Americans should have access to a basic level of care that includes the prevention of disease, health promotion and education, primary care (including prenatal and reproductive health), acute care, long-term care, and mental-health care.

Through decades of work in their communities, League members have learned that Americans believe that fairness and responsibility, as well as access, are important values for any health-care system. We believe that health-care reform can succeed only if it takes all these values into account.

LWVUS President Mary Wilson recently released the following statement:

PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL TO HEALTH REFORM
League Urges Congress and President to Continue Support for Public Option

Washington, DC – "The public option in health care reform may not be essential to bureaucrats or insurance companies but it absolutely is essential to the almost 47 million uninsured Americans who live day to day without health care coverage," said League of Women Voters National President Mary G. Wilson. Calling on Congress and the President not to succumb to the bullying tactics being used by special interest groups, Wilson urged Congress and the President not to waver in their support of the public option included in H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, recently passed by three House committees. 

America is facing a health care crisis caused by a combination of skyrocketing costs and an insurance system that leaves millions of Americans without any coverage. "The current health care system is endangering our economy, our health, and our national security," Wilson said. "Last fall, voters elected a Congress and President that promised to reform our heath care system. Voters made it clear that they want a change in our health care system, a change that puts the brakes on the excesses created by a system dominated by large insurance companies," she continued.

"It is universal coverage that will determine the humanity of our system and a public option will make that possible for Americans who cannot obtain coverage through the traditional employer-sponsored plans," noted Wilson. "We believe that health care reform legislation must guarantee access to comprehensive and essential benefits to all U.S. residents."

"But the possibility of universal coverage is not the only advantage of the public option," warned Wilson. "We must control costs and the public option is the best chance to bring costs into line with reality. As a nation, we are spending $1 out of every $6 we earn on health care. Over the last three decades, increases in the amount we spend on health care have consistently risen faster than wages and inflation. Health care reform must provide effective cost controls, equitable distribution of services and allow for efficient and economical delivery of care. Offering everyone the choice of a government administered health insurance plan like Medicare that would compete with private health insurance plans is key to lowering costs."

"The public option is critical to health care reform," Wilson concluded. "Now is not the time for politicians to get cold feet just because a handful of special-interest-backed protesters spread lies and make noise at public forums. Congress and the President need to demonstrate real leadership and move forward with true health care reform."

Background information

The League urges action NOW!

Analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation of current healthcare reform proposals before Congress (pdf file)

Visit the website of the PA Health Access Network for up-to-date information on what is happening in Pennsylvania. By going to the "contact us" link in the drop down menu under "About PCAN" you can get information on how to link up with other health-care reform advocates in your community.

Learn about what is happening in Bucks County, where League member Tam St.Claire is taking a leadership role in organizing grassroots activities in support of health-care reform. A white ribbon campaign is planned, which they will officially launch on Labor Day. White ribbons can be tied on porches, trees, mailboxes, car side mirrors, purses, or worn on clothing. People can give ribbons to public officials and take video to post on YouTube or photos to post on Facebook.
For information visit Bucks Voices for Health Care Reform.

For information regarding health-care issues and Federal health-care reform proposals visit

Factcheck.org, the Annenberg Public Policy Center's nationally acclaimed website for checking the veracity of statements and rumors about public policy issues.

Alliance for Health Reform, a non-partisan organization that provides many links to sites with additional information.

AARP;  AARP bulletin

AAUW position paper (pdf file)

American Medical Association

The Commonwealth Fund

Kaiser Health News

Public Interest Research Groups