This was a presentation I conceptualized, created, and presented to the CT AARP leadership about why they should join CT’s healthcare4every1 campaign.

Ultimately they did so, and put substantial organizational resources into pushing the Governor to sign CT’s public health insurance option.

AARP 11.19.08

Why 2009 is Connecticut’s time

6reasonswe will

win in

2009

1

People are desperate for

change on health care

2

The economic crisis hasn’t suppressed

that feeling

3

The economic crisis creates opportunity

for us

4a plan that…

• keeps us healthy• expands choice• gets more for our money

• gives us peace of mind

….really is smartreally is right

& it really is time

55our our

campaigncampaign

our Foundationour Foundation

our fundamental organizing principle:

no “red states”

no “blue states”

6

health careis

everyone’sissue

People are desperate for

change on health care

What is“Joe the Plumber”

thinking abouthealth care?

an October 5 – 9 Lake Research national pollof likely voters

After the economy,health care

is the most important issue to voters

http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/resources/VoterSurvey.cfm

When asked what issue people are

personally most worried

about...

health care

was the top issue

3%

4%

4%

5%

5%

7%

5%

21%

19%

14%

8%

7%

8%

38%

33%

24%

17%

13%

10%

17%

11%

9%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Crime, drugs and gangs

Fear of another terrorist attack

Medicare

Stock market

Schools and education

Being able to live on a fixed income

Affordable housing

Retirement savings

Jobs

Rising costs of gas and food

Health care

Most important

Most/secondmost important

Specifically, people are worried about:

Rising premiums & co-pays

Losing their health insurance

Quality of health care

Nearly 2/3 of voters favor providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans….

even if it means

“a major role for the federal government”

or

“a tax increase”

“Do you favor or oppose providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans……”

the economic crisis hasn’t suppressed

that feeling….

and may have even and may have even strengthened itstrengthened it

The economic crisis presents

opportunities for us

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/09/28/weekinreview/20080928_MARSH_GRFK.html?scp=1&sq=700%20billion%20chart&st=cse

When the crisis is big enough,

we figure out how to deal with

it

The debate over government’s role

in the economy and in protecting people

from economic forces and greedis over

The question now is

howis the government

involved and

whatdoes it do?

the people who profitprofit off the system are also the people running running the system

in both finance and health care:

(At one public managed-care company), their medical loss ratio went from 78.5 to 79 - their stock dropped ten percent in one day. There's been a disconnect:

“I used to be a pluralist, free-market economy - but it is not working in health care the way it should.

David Benfer, CEO and President of St Raphael’s Hospital

These companies were created originally as non-profits around the law of large numbers and true insurance principles.

Now that has changed to the law of profit and dividend.”

Business New Haven10/1/07

The economy- nationally &

internationally-will be a huge and

lingering issue at the federal level

health care can and needs to be addressed

at the state level

10.21.08

“States are being aggressive experimenters, and those lessons learned are going to be invaluable to us in looking at national health reform.”

Michelle Dimarob, Manager of legislative affairs for the National Federation of Independent Business in“Small Business Is Latest Focus in Health Fight,” July 10, 2008, New York Times

Now!

waiting is not an option

August 2008Harvard

journal articlehttp://works.bepress.com/christopher_robertson/2/

Half of all foreclosures are caused in part by medical problems

including illness or injuries (32%), unmanageable medical bills (23%),

lost work due to a medical problem (27%), or caring for sick family members (14%)

About a quarter of Wallingford’s

paraprofessionals are over

the age of 50

The crisis is not just about how much health care costs

it’s about what we are – or aren’t –

getting for all that money

May 2008 poll of U.S. Adults:

Currently, three out of four adultshave difficulty getting timely access to their doctor

Source: Commonwealth Fund Survey of Public Views of the U.S. Health Care System, 2008.

30%found difficulty getting an appointment with a doctor the same or next day when sick, without going to ER

41%struggled to get advice from their doctor by phone during regular office hours

60%had trouble getting care on nights, weekends, or holidays without going to ER

October 2008:

64% of small business owners say it is important to offer healthcare coverage to their employees….

http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/pc/2008/sbm08.asp

54%71% 66%

Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008

Increasingly –they just can’t do it

% of small business owners offering health benefits

http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/pc/2008/sbm08.asp

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080924005308&newsLang=en

We need to actNOW

at the front endrather than at the

$700 billion back end

who’s better than us?

üüüüüü

üüüüü

üüüüü üü

üüü

üüüüü

üüüüü

üüüüü

Organizers work the lists to:

üturn out for regional eventsüwrite letters to the editors ütestify at hearingsüorganize more people

üeducate the candidates

Membership by Senate district

Membership by House district

Membership by grantee

changing the

political DNA

of the state

our role

ü build leaders

ü build our numbers

ü build accountability

weblinks• Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease

http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/resources/VoterSurvey.cfm

• NYTImes graphic on bailout vs. medicare and Social Security http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/09/28/weekinreview/20080928_MARSH_GRFK.html?scp=1&sq=700%20billion%20chart&st=cse

• Commonwealth Fund on Public Views on U.S. Health System Organization http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=698138

• Harvard Health Matrix article on Medical debt and foreclosures http://works.bepress.com/christopher_robertson/2

• Towers Perrin 20 year Look at Health Care http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080924005308&newsLang=en

• American Express Small business survey http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/pc/2008/sbm08.asp