ACTION Alert

Please Join us on Thursday, January 15th at 12:00pm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We hope you can join us and our partners on the Maine Voices for Coverage coalition next Thursday, Jan. 15th, at noon in the State House Hall of Flags, for a press conference announcing our proposed steps toward quality, affordable health care for all Maine people. Ultimately, by attending this press conference you will show legislators and the media that health care is an issue that must be addressed, and that consumers (patients) and caregivers must be at the table where reform decisions are made! While expanding access to health coverage by traditional means may seem out of reach in these tough economic times, we have some very simple solutions we are supporting that will cut the cost of care while still maintaining or improving quality of that care. By focusing on policies that call for transparency of health care costs and quality information from insurers and providers we will be armed with the information we need to make more informed decisions when it comes to our health care. When we have the right information from the start we can better decide how to make our health care dollars go further. Some of the money that is saved through out our health care system by the transparency policies we are supporting can then be reinvested into expanding access to coverage for people who need it. When we improve quality and contain costs, we will make expanded access a possibility even in these dire economic times. There is so much room for our health care system to work better and more cost effectively, but only if consumers, employers and providers have enough information to make informed decisions. Ever try comparing which insurance plan would be best for you, but can't get the information from the companies to do so? Ever been lead to believe by insurers that something was covered, and then received a bill after the fact because it wasn't actually covered in your plan? Ever have your insurance costs skyrocket, but can't get and explanation as to why? Ever want to find out which doctors give the best quality care for the best price, but can't find that information? With better transparency in our health care system, Mainers will finally be able to get the information they need and deserve to make better informed decision for ourselves and our families. If you have had problems in our health care system like we listed above--despite carrying private insurance--and are willing to tell your story publicly, please contact Communications Coordinator, Cherilee Budrick at cbudrick@mainecahc.org Hope you can make it to our press conference! And, please pass this message on to your members. The more people aware, the more people who attend, the stronger we stand and the closer we will get to quality, affordable health care for all Maine people. Thank you!