'Tis the season for companies to do their annual benefits packages. Today we got an email about what we can expect concerning our health insurance next year. The news, unsurprisingly, was not good. But it also made me consider that we have an opportunity, as this news hits companies throughout the country, to take back the discussion of the public option and push for what we need. Changes in your benefits affect not only your quality of care, but your pocketbook even when you aren't sick. This news will be going out to almost everyone in the country (well those with insurance) over the next few weeks. It's the moment to use that news to change hearts and minds. Come with me below the fold for more.
I've paraphrased because the email was marked company confidential.
Here is roughly what the email said:
We have been reviewing plans and costs for 2010 with our insurance carriers. Our health insurance carrier notified us that our rate increase would just under 50%. There are many reasons associated with the cost increase including costs associated with improving medical technology, rising malpractice premiums and an increase in our medical claims over the past year. Unfortunately a rate increase of this size is simply not affordable for the Company or employees and we will be seeking a new provider. Please fill out this survey to help us decide what to adjust in order to obtain insurance at a cost both employees and the Company can afford.
This was the talk of the company today. No one expressed the view that this was a good thing and everyone I heard discussing it wanted a public option. Co-workers who are Republicans said that we needed a public option. We didn't get pay raises this year and this news made people wonder if the company will be able to afford them next year. "I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to get a pay raise not see it go to an insurance company," was a sentiment that was expressed by several. I work for a company that prides itself on providing good benefits. But they can't sustain increases like this.
This is exactly what we need to help push for the public option. I'm forwarding information about the email (but not the exact text) to my Congressman and Senators. Show them why the current system is bad not only from a human perspective, but that it is killing our businesses that aren't in the insurance business. Especially forward the news to any Republican lawmakers or Blue Dog Dems. They need to hear over and over why the current system is unsustainable.
When you get the bad news about increased premiums and benefits cuts make sure you talk to your co-workers about how the public option would help us. If you, like we did at work, have someone who was seriously ill or died, talk about what this change in benefits would have meant to that person. When you can put a face they know on the pain and suffering that our broken system is causing, it helps. We had to raise money twice last year to help people with serious illness in their familes who were covered by insurance. Remind people that it could be them next.
All day I've been thinking about a relative who just this week had a child diagnosed with cancer. Both of them work for small, small businesses. I can't even imagine what this will do to the quote for the husband's company (where they get their insurance) or how much out-of-the pocket this diagnosis will cost them. We have to have the public option.