I just recieved this email back from Sen. Burris:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. XXXX:
Thank you for contacting me about healthcare reform. I appreciate hearing from you.
As your United States Senator, one of my top priorities is to ensure that my constituents have access to affordable, quality healthcare. Today, nearly 3.5 million Illinois residents, 30.8% of the under 65 population, lack health insurance. Those who remain covered face rapidly rising premiums. A Kaiser Family Foundation report found that average insurance premiums have more than doubled in the past nine years, and the New America Foundation projects that, by 2016, coverage costs for an average Illinois family could top $25,000 a year.
In the face of these challenges, I support reforms aimed at improving efficiency and access while reducing cost. A focus on prevention and primary care will help Americans avoid getting sick, saving billions on costly specialist and emergency treatments. Increasing competition in the insurance market through a public option will put pressure on insurers to reduce administrative costs, marketing, and high profit margins. This will result in a higher percentage of premiums spent on treatment and a better overall value for consumers. Assuring affordable access to health insurance for all will eliminate the $1,200 “hidden tax” that the average insured Illinois resident pays in additional premiums to subsidize expensive emergency care for those who cannot afford premiums.
The pending reform effort has received the support of many of the nation’s most prominent medical, consumer, and senior groups. The American Medical Association, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the American Federation of Hospitals, Families USA, and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) all support reform because they know that our current system faces a crisis. As costs skyrocket, more people lose the coverage they need. Patients suffer, and businesses lose productivity. Insurers, hospitals, and doctors lose customers, and the entire healthcare system begins to break down. Currently, 14,000 people lose their insurance every single day. This is not acceptable in America.
A number of groups that profit from the current inefficiencies have spread false rumors about reform. I would like to take this opportunity to correct some of the misinformation.
“Government Takeover”: Some believe that a public insurance option will mean the end of private health insurance. On the contrary, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that if insurance reform passes with a public plan option, the number of people covered by private, employer-sponsored coverage will actually increase.
Rationing: Rationed care will not happen with reform. In fact, the bill takes a number of steps to prevent insurance companies from making your coverage decisions. Insurance reform will restore your doctor’s ability to treat patients properly, without deferring to insurance company bureaucrats who deny coverage and treatments.
Medicare: Rumors abound that reform jeopardizes existing Medicare coverage. The truth is, cutting waste, fraud, and abuse will assure the security of the Medicare trust fund for years to come. In addition, insurance reform will end cost sharing for preventative care, cut the prescription drug “doughnut hole” in half, and lower Medicare premiums.
Abortion: None of the reform proposals being considered would mandate coverage of abortions. Both the House and Senate versions have a “conscious protection” clause, which allows doctors the right to refuse to perform an abortion, if doing so conflicts with their values.
“Death Panels”: One proposal would give seniors the option to receive Medicare covered counseling sessions, with their doctor, to discuss end-of-life care options such as a living will and hospice care. The decision to seek these sessions, as well as the end-of –life choices themselves, will remain completely with the patient.
Federal Employees: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s reform proposal requires all Members of Congress and their staffs to enroll in the public insurance plan. I fully support this proposal, as I believe that we Senators should have a personal stake in the reforms we propose.
Cost: President Obama has repeatedly stated that any reform must maintain budget neutrality and not increase taxes for the middle class. Congress continues to consider various options to pay for the legislation, but I share the President's commitment to a bill that does not increase the federal budget deficit.
Investing in reform now will ensure stability in our healthcare system. President Obama has made very clear that reform will protect Americans’ right to keep their current policy, but changes will slow the rate of increase in premiums, offer protection and options for those who lose their jobs, and help those who cannot afford insurance.
I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Illinoisans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Illinois and the nation. My job is not about merely supporting or opposing legislation; it is also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics.
Sincerely,
Roland W. Burris
United States Senator
Thank you for contacting me electronically. Unfortunately, I cannot respond to replies directly to this email address due to security concerns. I look forward to our further correspondence through my web form located at
burris.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm. Thank you for your understanding.
