Consumer's Union, the publishers of Consumer Reports magazine, has decided to put their considerable influence behind the drive for health care reform. This is significant, because they always remain above the fray, and don't endorse products or take ad money from the people whose products they test.
In fact, the magazine has no ads of any sort.
As a result of these policies Consumer's Union is viewed by most people as objective and unbiased, owing nothing to anyone, and with no agenda of their own. They test stuff. They report their results.
Now, this widely trusted organization has decided to weigh in, with a TV ad buy no less, and as usual they're on the side of consumers.
Below is the email they sent me today:
Dear happy camper,
Do you seriously trust the insurance industry to voluntarily lower prices, cover what’s really needed, insure you if you get really sick, and stop coming between you and your doctor? If you don't, then join us.
We’re putting the Consumer Reports brand behind the call for common-sense health reform in Washington. In conjunction with Consumers Union, we created a TV ad to make sure Congress knows that consumers are fed up with the cost, coverage and poor treatment by insurers.
Health reform opponents say if everyone simply buys coverage from the insurance giants, industry will fix what’s broken on their own. If they really meant it, wouldn’t they have done it by now? It’s time Congress knows you want real solutions to our healthcare problems, not another ‘trust us’ from industry.
Your $5 can help us air this TV ad in members’ home states and get us a victory!
Last week, the Senate Finance Committee fell just a few votes short of including in its bill a new coverage choice that would compete with the giant insurance companies, and give them a reason to lower their outrageous prices. We want more coverage choices -- not fewer -- and we want it to be affordable. And we need your help to turn around those ‘no’ votes.
We’re targeting key members with your emails, phone calls, letters and petition signatures. Your previous donations helped us create this TV ad. But it won't build support for reform unless we can run it in these Senators’ home states.
We don’t have the industry’s deep pockets, but we’re putting as much of our resources as possible into winning this battle. If everyone who gets this can give just $5, we can make a real difference. We’ve worked for 70 years to get Americans more affordable health care, and this is our best chance yet!
Your $5 can get us on TV in members’ districts – consumers deserve to be heard!
We know times are tough, and you may even be dealing with your own outrageous health care bills. If you can’t give, please forward this on to others you know who are tired of politicians telling us to trust the insurance industry to do right by us.
Thank you for all you do for the consumer movement!
Sincerely,
Kathy Mitchell
Consumers Union Action Fund, Inc.
506 W. 14th Street, Suite A
Austin, TX 78701
This can only be good news--and not for John McCain.
CU stands to gain or lose nothing from health care reform, except maybe the benefit of lower cost to their company and healthier employees.
Momentum for real reform continues to build. The more companies and prominent institutions we have on our side, the better.
YES WE CAN!
Please consider sending them a few bucks if you can afford it. We need to keep the pressure on Congress to do the right thing.
UPDATE: From the comments, this link to the CR health blog (h/t to ericlewis0). A sample of the results of their polling:
Overall, 28 percent of Americans reported loss of coverage or benefit reductions, and cuts were seen across all income levels. And given the current economy, such cuts could have a real impact on the health of Americans. In a previous survey we found that trying to save on prescription drugs can lead to risky behaviors. This poll bore that out—about half of Americans—51 percent—reported that they had to make one or more difficult medical decision due to costs in the last year, including:
• Putting off a doctor’s visit (28 percent)
• Inability to pay for medical bills or medications (25 percent)
• Putting off a medical procedure (22 percent)
• Declining a medical test (20 percent)
• Not filling a prescription (20 percent)
• Using expired medications (15 percent)
• Skipping a scheduled dose (15 percent)
• Splitting pills (13 percent)
• Or sharing a prescription with someone else (9 percent)
These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive health care reform.
If you visit the link check out the comments. Feel free to leave a comment (no registration required)as a counter to all the wingnuts there.