Making Room for Everyone at the Health Reform Table
Posted November 24th, 2009 by EunSook LeeThe reality is that as we come closer to the passage of health reform, many immigrants are going to be left out.
In the face of this situation, health reform and immigrant rights groups came together to do a big push to highlight the inequities and injustice of how immigrants are being treated.
Two weeks ago, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and affiliates initiated a petition campaign urging key policymakers to protect and include immigrants in health reform. At least 33 organizations across the country participated in this effort and in this two-week span, we collected 6,340 petitions.
The same organizations also organized a day of action in the East and West coasts on November 23.
On the West coast, legislative visits were held with staff of Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, followed by a rally and vigil in the afternoon organized in the heart of San Francisco, which enjoyed the participation of many local immigrant rights and Asian American and Pacific Islander community groups.
The nearly 250 community members recognized that the House bill afforded some protection to immigrant inclusion in health reform. They urged Speaker Pelosi, a key negotiator in the upcoming conference committee, to advance and fortify her position as a leader who fought against anti-immigrant amendments to pass the House bill, in the face of extreme pressure. The action also reminded the public that neither the House nor the Senate bills address the lifting of the five-year bar, which means that legal immigrants living and working in the extremest of poverty are made even more vulnerable. The “five-year bar” is a waiting period that prevents states from using federal funding in Medicaid for health services to legal immigrants who have had their legal status for less than five years.
“Hey hey, ho ho, the five year bar has got to go,” chanted college student leaders, children, elders and working parents in San Francisco, in a reflection of the strength of immigrant communities from across California.
On the East coast in Washington, D.C. NAKASEC and CASA de Maryland organized a delegation of largely Latino and Asian American immigrants to the office of Rep. Joe Wilson to say it is not okay to prohibit people from seeking medical care based on immigration status, and that immigrants are part of this country.
“Si se puede!” and “Hal soo eet dah!” (“Yes we can!” in Spanish and Korean) chanted the group in solidarity. Unlike Rep. Wilson who is poisoning the health care debate and blocking the real progress that Americans need, immigrant communities want to be part of new and vibrant solutions to our nation’s problems.
Korean Americans, Southeast Asian Americans, Chinese Americans, Latinos and others have decided that enough is not being done to change the landscape for health reform for all of America. This is an important step given where health reform is with the Senate. On Saturday, November 21, the Senate voted for cloture and is expected to begin debate with the Reid Substitute as the starting point on November 30. Among key differences between the House and Senate bill, the Senate bill notably prohibits undocumented immigrants from purchasing health insurance with their own money on the health exchange. See this article in the Christian Science Monitor for more details.
We urge you to monitor the debate and keep your eyes out for an action alert from NAKASEC to contact your policymakers, especially your Senators, to protect immigrant inclusion. We need legislators and the White House to do health reform the right way – by eliminating the federal five-year waiting period for legal immigrants in Medicaid and removing restrictions for undocumented immigrants to be able to purchase health insurance in the health exchange.
Check out our press statement, and links to more photos and video here from the November 23 day of action: http://nakasec.org/blog/1733.
EunSook Lee is the Executive Director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC). Over the last 15 years, NAKASEC and affiliates Korean Resource Center (KRC) in Los Angeles and Korean Resource and Cultural Center (KRCC) in Chicago formed a network that forwards a holistic empowerment model combining education, social service, culture, civic engagement, and organizing. Read more at http://nakasec.org/blog
This post was cross-posted at Asian Pacific Americans for Progress.
6 Comments
April 23, 2010 at 8:44 am by Douglas ThompsonHealth Care Reform Act-intent for Change
For many years, America’s health brokers have been offering health insurance to individuals, small businesses and large businesses for decades, yet the enrollment statistics have revealed a steady decrease on an annual basis. The number of uninsured Americans is estimated to be as high as 30 million, and the Health Care Reform Act offers a solution. Not only will there be a higher enrollment number for America’s health brokers, but as of 2014, it will be required by law for every American to obtain health insurance. Every single American will be impacted by the New Health Reform Bill, making it one of the most important measures of the 21st Century.
Businesses
The main focus will be on businesses of 50 or more employees, in which they will be required to offer individual health plans, as well as family plans to all employees or face some stiff fines from the government. The amount comes to $2000 per uninsured employee, though there are exemptions to this fine. If you as an employer assist an individual with acquiring a personal health insurance plan through an open market called an exchange, then it would result in no fines. This only applies to an individual who makes a certain amount under the Federal Poverty Level, and the premiums are over 8% of his annual income.
America’s health brokers can rest easy in the fact that there will be expanded coverage, though there may be more competition. With the rise in individuals who will have health insurance, there may not be as large of a risk as one may assume. Though the new bill will require America’s health brokers to enroll individuals with pre-existing conditions, there will also be a new population of young individuals who will be insured with fewer health problems.
It is understood that larger companies already provide a group insurance plan (HMO, PPO) that covers all areas of needs for the population of employees. These policies will change very little, but there may be some changes in where the funding for the new health care plan will come. It is proposed that those making a certain amount of money, both individuals and couples, will be taxed at a higher percentage than others. This will provide money that can be used for the exchange and making sure that all individuals will be offered an affordable health plan.
There are still a few years before the plan goes into full effect, though some of the measures will be enforced immediately. There will be plenty of time to sort out the details and iron out the difficulties. As for the plan, anyone who does not have health insurance as of January 1, 2014, will be penalized a certain amount of money, and this amount could become worse if health insurance is continuously neglected. There has never been a better opportunity for America’s health brokers in terms of acquiring a new customer base-a broader customer base. Also, there has never been a better time in history for individuals being provided with the resources for the necessary medical treatment. This is a very unique time, with history in the making. Finally, there will be health care for all.
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April 23, 2010 at 8:42 am by Douglas ThompsonA Government proposal for Change-Health Care Reform Act
March 2010 may stand out as a monumental month for change with the Obama Administration-Americans can look forward to changes in the current health care system through the passing of the Health Care Reform Act. Though there are many details that need to be ironed out, there are many changes that have been established.
There are two factors that will have the largest impact for Americans and America’s health brokers:
1) The fact that as of 2014, it is required by law for employers to offer affordable health insurance plans to all employees.
2) As of 2014, all Americans will be required to acquire health insurance.
Employers-For businesses over 100 employees, there may not be many changes. The difference may be that part-time employees will be offered aid with a percentage of hours in relation to full-time employment. This will offer benefits to those who do not have that same opportunity currently as a part-time employee. With businesses under 100 employees, there will be opportunities for credits from the government to offer aid with those employees. A percentage will be paid, based on payroll that will pool to help those who acquire insurance through an exchange, where many of America’s health brokers will provide different affordable insurance plans for all individuals.
What is the incentive for employers to offer insurance?
Employers will face a fine of up to $2000 per employee for not providing insurance coverage to an individual employee. These fines can be diverted if the employer offers an alternative means to acquire insurance (which would require assistance through the exchange).
Individuals-As of 2014, all Americans (with the exception of certain special case individuals) will be required to carry some form of insurance. Insurance will either be offered through employment or affordable insurance can be purchased through the exchange. America’s Health brokers will offer many new plans and opportunities to acquire cheap health insurance.
What is the incentive for individuals to acquire insurance?
According to the law, there will be a penalty assessed to all Americans who fail to acquire health insurance by the year 2014. The fine will be originally set at $695 per person, per year. This will hopefully be enough to encourage those who are not insured to carry some form of low cost health insurance.
America’s health brokers will be seeing some changes that could affect them. Pre-existing conditions will no longer be applicable in denying insurance to children. As of 2014, America’s health brokers cannot deny health insurance to anyone due to a pre-existing condition. There are other factors that will change certain policies and conditions.
The Health Care Reform Bill is an opportunity to reorganize the condition of care that is offered in the United States. There are many issues that riddle the care of many Americans, so hopefully this will provide solutions to some of the larger issues. One key aspect is the fact that all Americans will have the opportunity to have health care. This will be advantageous in many aspects: Prescription medications, preventative care, and treatment.
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November 27, 2009 at 1:26 am by ihealth 360In the face of this situation, health reform and immigrant rights groups came together to do a big push to highlight the inequities and injustice of how immigrants are being treated.
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November 25, 2009 at 8:35 am by ihealth 360Unfortunately, not everyone in America views this program as a success. Although, you can argue, that this government program truly saved thousands of jobs in dealerships who needed boosts in sales, many Republicans point to the fact that 60% of the cars purchased under Cash 4 Clunkers were foreign made vehicles.
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November 25, 2009 at 12:39 am by Wellescent Health BlogWhile the 5 year time frame may have been designed to limit abuses of the medical system by immigrants, the problem is that it sends a very mixed message and defeats any purpose of cost savings. Immigrants are encourage to come to the country to fill jobs that Americans aren’t trained to do or are not willing to do, but these same people who are willing to work aren’t allowed to protect themselves with like American citizens.
If the government does not wish to promote immigration, that is its prerogative, but if people are in the country legally, they should have the opportunity to purchase health insurance for themselves. If for no other reason than a selfish purpose, this means that American citizens would be limiting their own costs that come from those with nowhere to turn ending up in emergency rooms to seek care.
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