Friend — Yesterday was the second anniversary of health care reform, or Obamacare, which is under threat of repeal by each of the GOP candidates. Mitt Romney said he’d "kill it dead." So each tip this week focuses on how this landmark reform is working to help people — from young people to seniors and everyone in between — and what would happen if the GOP got their way. Check it out, then spread the word to anyone who has questions on the progress we’ve made:
#1 Infographic: How Obamacare will close the Medicare "doughnut hole" Yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden spoke to folks in Miami about Medicare, and laid out a clear contrast between President Obama’s and Mitt Romney’s plans for it. While Romney plans to end Medicare as we know it and make seniors pay more, President Obama is working to strengthen Medicare and close the famed Medicare prescription drug "doughnut hole," which forces some seniors to pay thousands of dollars for prescription medications out of pocket. It’s just one way the President is making sure that when people retire, they can do it securely — and with dignity. Take a look at the infographic we put together comparing their plans, then share it with friends and family:
#2 Five ways Romney would hurt Americans by repealing health reform Of all the GOP candidates, Mitt Romney’s been leading the fight to repeal health reform. So this week, we put together the top five ways that Romney repealing Obamacare would hurt Americans. For example, did you know that if the law is overturned, up to 129 million people would continue to be at risk of being denied insurance due to pre-existing conditions? It’s scary to think what would happen if this reform is rolled back. Spread the word:
#3 Why health reform matters: Judy’s story If Obamacare is repealed, here’s another of the first things to go: access to preventive care. Many basic preventive services like mammograms, cancer screenings, and bone density tests for osteoporosis are available at no additional cost. These services can prevent sickness, and also catch it early — making treatment easier and less invasive. A perfect example of why this reform matters is Judy’s story. Thanks to a free mammogram, she detected cancer early and received treatment immediately. Today, her outlook is good — and she feels healthy. Watch this short video of her story, and pass it along:
#4 Why health reform matters: Seniors There’s no doubt that if the GOP got their way and repealed Obamacare, seniors would be one of the groups hit hardest. Last year, millions of seniors and disabled Americans relied on Medicare for quality health care — and almost 26 million received at least one preventive service free of cost. Thanks to President Obama’s plan to close the Medicare "doughnut hole," seniors saved an average of $600 last year on prescriptions. Share the facts with everyone who should know:
#5 Insurance companies barred from denying Americans with pre-existing conditions One of the biggest achievements of Obamacare is that people will no longer be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. What’s considered a pre-existing condition? Everything from high blood pressure to asthma to cancer or heart disease. And they’re more common than you may think — up to half of Americans under the age of 65 have one. If Romney and the GOP have their way, they’d immediately roll this back — essentially telling folks they’re on their own. Share with people how critical this piece of health reform is to us:
I couldn’t be more proud of the changes put in place by Obamacare — and I bet you’re proud, too. So the next time you hear someone knock Obamacare, fight back. You’ve got the facts to back you up. Thanks for your help, Stephanie P.S. — If you’re with me on liking Obamacare, and want to show the world, check out these new T-shirts we just created. I think you’ll like them a lot.
