Purpose
As public health practitioners, we believe it is a moral imperative to include a robust public health insurance option in the current round of health reform. The exclusion of this vital provision will further hinder ours and other’s abilities to prevent disease, protect and promote the public’s health. Every year, 44,789 Americans die due to a lack of adequate health insurance coverage. It is shameful and outrageous that the health system in the richest country in the world continually pushes out and injures those most in need.
The federal government is positioned to make these vital changes for the first time in over a decade. It is imperative that we all act now to ensure that we don’t lose this precious opportunity.
Logistics:
On Sunday, November 8th, starting at 2:30PM (day/timing under consideration), we will hold an action in support of a robust public option. The demonstration will include a short march from the Philadelphia convention center to the National Headquarters of Cigna, Inc. A silent vigil will then be held in front of the building to illustrate the countless number of citizens and those living in the United States who have been and will continue to be victimized by unfair practices perpetrated by most health insurance companies.
During this peaceful march we are asking members of APHA to join us in solidarity in support for a robust public health insurance option in the current national health reform efforts. It is important that the public health community stands united behind the common cause of progressive change in the way our health care systems function. Public health practitioners provide a vital role in the protection and promotion of the public’s health, this role can only be fortified by a robust system of insurance to protect all those in need.