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  • Members: 1134
  • Category: Health Care
  • Founded: Dec 17, 2005
  • Language: English
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#2020 From: Joel Albers <joel@...>
Date: Thu Jan 3, 2008 5:08 pm
Subject: mtg,Mon,Jan7,7PM
joelmalbers
Send Email Send Email
 
Dear Health Care Activists,

The next UHCAN-MN organizing meeting is:

Monday, January 7, 7PM, Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls.

(Walker Church is 1 block from Lake Street and Bloomington Ave). (Note:  regularly scheduled  mtgs are now first Monday of each month). 

Bring your thoughts, ideas, actions for building the Movement for Health Care as a Human Right, a government funded single-payer for all MN and U.S.

Suggested items (yours' are welcome): 

-Welcome, intros, 
-Orientation, background
       -MLK Day Jan 21
       -Building a grassroots media campaign (f/u from our Forum last month)
       -Building the grassroots, labor, practitioner group etc network       
       -Legislation:MN Legislative session begins Feb
       Reportbacks:
       -Mobile Community Health Screenings/ Ed. Outreach
-MN Health Fund 
       -Personal Stories Project

See you there, bring a friend
joel


#2021 From: joel albers <joel@...>
Date: Fri Jan 4, 2008 7:01 pm
Subject: Fwd: mtg,Mon,Jan7,7PM
joelmalbers
Send Email Send Email
 


Note: forwarded message attached.

Dear Health Care Activists,

The next UHCAN-MN organizing meeting is:

Monday, January 7, 7PM, Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls.

(Walker Church is 1 block from Lake Street and Bloomington Ave). (Note:  regularly scheduled  mtgs are now first Monday of each month). 

Bring your thoughts, ideas, actions for building the Movement for Health Care as a Human Right, a government funded single-payer for all MN and U.S.

Suggested items (yours' are welcome): 

-Welcome, intros, 
-Orientation, background
       -MLK Day Jan 21
       -Building a grassroots media campaign (f/u from our Forum last month)
       -Building the grassroots, labor, practitioner group etc network       
       -Legislation:MN Legislative session begins Feb
       Reportbacks:
       -Mobile Community Health Screenings/ Ed. Outreach
-MN Health Fund 
       -Personal Stories Project

See you there, bring a friend
joel


#2022 From: Cherryl Quick <cherrylaq@...>
Date: Sat Jan 5, 2008 11:43 pm
Subject: RE: mtg,Mon,Jan7,7PM
cherrylaq@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Hello Joel,
 
Thanks for the invitation. I have a class Monday night so cannot attend but would be interested in attending meetings.
 
Happy New Year,
 
Cherryl



To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
From: joel@...
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 11:01:56 -0800
Subject: Fwd: [uhcan-mn] mtg,Mon,Jan7,7PM



Note: forwarded message attached.
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
From: joel@...
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 11:08:00 -0600
Subject: [uhcan-mn] mtg,Mon,Jan7,7PM

Dear Health Care Activists,

The next UHCAN-MN organizing meeting is:

Monday, January 7, 7PM, Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls.

(Walker Church is 1 block from Lake Street and Bloomington Ave). (Note:  regularly scheduled  mtgs are now first Monday of each month). 

Bring your thoughts, ideas, actions for building the Movement for Health Care as a Human Right, a government funded single-payer for all MN and U.S.

Suggested items (yours' are welcome): 

-Welcome, intros, 
-Orientation, background
       -MLK Day Jan 21
       -Building a grassroots media campaign (f/u from our Forum last month)
       -Building the grassroots, labor, practitioner group etc network       
       -Legislation:MN Legislative session begins Feb
       Reportbacks:
       -Mobile Community Health Screenings/ Ed. Outreach
-MN Health Fund 
       -Personal Stories Project

See you there, bring a friend
joel




Make distant family not so distant with Windows Vista® + Windows Live™. Start now!

#2023 From: Karen Monahan <karenejam@...>
Date: Mon Jan 7, 2008 1:17 am
Subject: EJAM's Founders Day
karenejam@...
Send Email Send Email
 

Please spread the word.

 

Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota

5th Annual Founders’ Day

 
“Environmental Justice from the Bottom Up”
 
Saturday January 12, 2008
Registration 10:00 am
Program 10:30 am – 5:00 pm
 
Minneapolis Urban League
2100 Plymouth Av. N, Mpls.
 
For more info. call Karen Monahan 612-436-5402
 
 
 

Keynote speaker: Cecil Corbin-Mark, Program Director of WE ACT
WE ACT is a non-profit organization based in Northern Manhattan. They are working to improve environmental quality and to secure environmental justice in predominately African-American and Latino communities.

 

Also featuring Congressman Keiuth Ellison and
 
Event Includes:
·        Update on EJAM’s Climate Justice work and what you can do to help
·        Workshops on various issues in the EJ community
·        Youth workshop and youth participation
·        “Town hall forum” open dialogue with the community
·        Performance, vendor tables, sign up for upcoming actions.
 
FREE EVENT! Donations welcome. Light lunch and snacks provided

Congressman Keith Ellison

 

 
 
 
 
Come listen, learn, speak your mind and get involved!


Karen Monahan
Environmental Justice Organizer
Office # 612-436-5402
 
"We who believe in freedom cannot rest"- Ella Baker



Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

#2024 From: Joel Albers <joel@...>
Date: Mon Jan 7, 2008 6:07 pm
Subject: reminder, mtg tonight 7PM
joelmalbers
Send Email Send Email
 
Dear Health Care Activists,

The next UHCAN-MN organizing meeting is:

Monday, January 7, 7PM, Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls.

(Walker Church is 1 block from Lake Street and Bloomington Ave). (Note:  regularly scheduled  mtgs are now first Monday of each month). 

Bring your thoughts, ideas, actions for building the Movement for Health Care as a Human Right, a government funded single-payer for all MN and U.S.

Suggested items (yours' are welcome): 

-Welcome, intros, 
-Orientation, background
       -MLK Day Jan 21
       -Building a grassroots media campaign (f/u from our Forum last month)
       -Building the grassroots, labor, practitioner group etc network       
       -Legislation:MN Legislative session begins Feb
       Reportbacks:
       -Mobile Community Health Screenings/ Ed. Outreach
       -MN Health Fund 
       -Personal Stories Project


See you there, bring a friend
joel


#2025 From: magi0045@...
Date: Mon Jan 7, 2008 6:59 pm
Subject: Re: reminder, mtg tonight 7PM
magi0045@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Joel,

I will plan to show up tonight. I will let you know that I am not sure what
my availiability will be this Srping as I am in the last semester of my MPH
degree at the U.

Thanks,

Andrew Magill


On Jan 7 2008, Joel Albers wrote:

>Dear Health Care Activists,
>
>The next UHCAN-MN organizing meeting is:
>
>Monday, January 7, 7PM, Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls.
>
>(Walker Church is 1 block from Lake Street and Bloomington Ave).
>(Note:  regularly scheduled  mtgs are now first Monday of each month).
>
>Bring your thoughts, ideas, actions for building the Movement for
>Health Care as a Human Right, a government funded single-payer for
>all MN and U.S.
>
>Suggested items (yours' are welcome):
>
>-Welcome, intros,
>-Orientation, background
>        -MLK Day Jan 21
>        -Building a grassroots media campaign (f/u from our Forum
>last month)
>        -Building the grassroots, labor, practitioner group etc network
>        -Legislation:MN Legislative session begins Feb
>        Reportbacks:
>        -Mobile Community Health Screenings/ Ed. Outreach
>        -MN Health Fund
>        -Personal Stories Project
>
>
>See you there, bring a friend
>joel
>
>

#2026 From: Joel Albers <joel@...>
Date: Mon Jan 7, 2008 10:43 pm
Subject: Re: reminder, mtg tonight 7PM
joelmalbers
Send Email Send Email
 
great. see you at Walker Church.
joel

On Jan 7, 2008, at 12:59 PM, magi0045@... wrote:

Joel,

I will plan to show up tonight. I will let you know that I am not sure what
my availiability will be this Srping as I am in the last semester of my MPH
degree at the U.

Thanks,

Andrew Magill

On Jan 7 2008, Joel Albers wrote:

>Dear Health Care Activists,
>
>The next UHCAN-MN organizing meeting is:
>
>Monday, January 7, 7PM, Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls.
>
>(Walker Church is 1 block from Lake Street and Bloomington Ave).
>(Note: regularly scheduled mtgs are now first Monday of each month).
>
>Bring your thoughts, ideas, actions for building the Movement for
>Health Care as a Human Right, a government funded single-payer for
>all MN and U.S.
>
>Suggested items (yours' are welcome):
>
>-Welcome, intros,
>-Orientation, background
> -MLK Day Jan 21
> -Building a grassroots media campaign (f/u from our Forum
>last month)
> -Building the grassroots, labor, practitioner group etc network
> -Legislation:MN Legislative session begins Feb
> Reportbacks:
> -Mobile Community Health Screenings/ Ed. Outreach
> -MN Health Fund
> -Personal Stories Project
>
>
>See you there, bring a friend
>joel
>
>



#2027 From: Joel Albers <joel@...>
Date: Tue Jan 8, 2008 7:00 pm
Subject: Comment on Strib article 1/6/08
joelmalbers
Send Email Send Email
 
Maura Lerner's front page article (State has healthiest hearts in the nation,Star Tribune, Sunday,Jan 6, 2008) states "Minnesota's progress outshines the rest of the country" . This refers to the American Heart Association's 2008 national report, in which Minnesota had the lowest rate of death from coronary heart disease in the U.S.: 90 per 100,000 population, compared with the U.S. national average of 150 in 2004. The credit for this is attributed to " healthy living and a top-rate medical system". It is important to note that Minnesota's coronary heart disease death rate is significantly higher than the national average of countries such as: France, Japan, Italy, and Spain (OECD data). The same can be said of Minnesota's infant mortality rate, which is higher than 29 other countries (OECD data), and other measures of health. All of these countries have implemented government-funded universal health care systems. 


Joel Albers 

Clinical Pharmacist, Health Economics Researcher

Universal Health Care Action Network - MN

Community/University Collaborative Research

www.uhcan-mn.org

email: joel@...

phone: 612-384-0973

address: 1520 10th ave South #2

           Mpls, MN, 55404




#2028 From: magi0045@...
Date: Tue Jan 8, 2008 7:39 pm
Subject: Re: Comment on Strib article 1/6/08
magi0045@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Joel,

Do you have copies of past press releases or letters to the editor which
UCA_MN has done to send me? Also as we discussed, if you can briefly
outline some major points that you would want containted in an MLK press
release or letter and email me I will get to work on that.

How far in advance should these be submitted?

Andrew Magill



On Jan 8 2008, Joel Albers wrote:

>Maura Lerner's front page article (State has healthiest hearts in the
>nation,Star Tribune, Sunday,Jan 6, 2008) states "Minnesota's progress
>outshines the rest of the country" . This refers to the American
>Heart Association's 2008 national report, in which Minnesota had the
>lowest rate of death from coronary heart disease in the U.S.: 90 per
>100,000 population, compared with the U.S. national average of 150 in
>2004. The credit for this is attributed to " healthy living and a top-
>rate medical system". It is important to note that Minnesota's
>coronary heart disease death rate is significantly higher than the
>national average of countries such as: France, Japan, Italy, and
>Spain (OECD data). The same can be said of Minnesota's infant
>mortality rate, which is higher than 29 other countries (OECD data),
>and other measures of health. All of these countries have implemented
>government-funded universal health care systems.
>
>
>Joel Albers
>Clinical Pharmacist, Health Economics Researcher
>Universal Health Care Action Network - MN
>Community/University Collaborative Research
>www.uhcan-mn.org
>email: joel@...
>phone: 612-384-0973
>address: 1520 10th ave South #2
>            Mpls, MN, 55404
>
>
>

#2029 From: Joel Albers <joel@...>
Date: Wed Jan 9, 2008 5:12 pm
Subject: UHCAN-MN Mtg Notes
joelmalbers
Send Email Send Email
 
Hi Everyone,

Monday's UHCAN-MN mtg notes:

Present: Orel Jensen, Beth Shapiro, Larry Olds, Andrew Magill, Celia, Dorothy Allen, John Shotzbarger, Bill Mears, Janet Asanchayev, Mary Jo Wiatrak-Uhlenk, Joel albers

The two main agenda items were: organizing for MLK Day Jan 21w/ a single-payer HC reform message and focus on Hc disparities;, and joining in with Medics and networking on health care  at the RNC Convention protests august 2008.

1.MLK Day, Mon Jan 21. This is a great inspiring day of community unity and networking. 

7-9 AM:We need people to attend one of four St Paul Church MLK FREE breakfasts from 7AM to 9AM (get there at 8AM if you want). So far 2 of us have volunteered to table literature there and network about the need for fundamentally just and humane unified government-funded HC reform. Our contact person is photocopying our single-payer flyer, and i have copies of a separate flyer  with info on how to contact legislators. To RSVP to attend 1 of the free breakfasts, www.spacc.org or call 651-789-3877. Andrew Magill is writing up a Press Release re: the stark HC disparities between people of color and whites, and the need for a unified HC system for all.
 
10AM:Please attend the Central High School rally in the auditorium (Marshal & Lexington,St Paul. I will have signs to give out, with me at the rally in the auditorium. I also have a song and chant sheet. Feel free to bring your own flyers, signs, and chants etc if you want.

10:30AM: March down Marshall Street from Central HS to Concordia college.
 
11AM:Program at Gangelhoff Auditorium, Concordia College. Possible tabling, and holding up HC signs.

2.RNC 2008 labor day weekend medic organizing mtg, Feb 1, Blue Moon Cafe. Details TBA.
The RNC has huge implications as a focal point for bringing many groups together for a variety of causes. We may be doing health screenings in the 2 clinics that are being set up.


#2030 From: Stefanie Levi <stefalala@...>
Date: Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:23 am
Subject: Fwd: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
stefalala
Send Email Send Email
 
Note: forwarded message attached.



      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/portada.htm
United States Ranks Last in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
London, January 9 (RHC)-- A new medical study shows that the U.S. ranks
last among industrialized nations in avoiding deaths by preventable
disease. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine found a preventable-disease death rate of 110 for every
100,000 Americans.
According to the new study, the deaths include deaths from infections,
treatable cancers, diabetes, and heart and vascular disease. The
study’s authors say it is difficult to ignore the likely connection to
the rising number of medically uninsured Americans.
A recently-released U.S. government report shows that nearly 20 percent
of Americans, or more than 40 million adults, can't afford or (to) access
needed health care. The 2007 report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one-fifth of the population in
the U.S. couldn't afford one or more of these services: medical care,
prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses.
Among other barriers are areas without enough doctors, lack of
transportation to doctors and clinics, and shortages of such organs as
kidneys for transplants.

#2031 From: "Blanche Hall" <blanche.hall@...>
Date: Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:34 pm
Subject: Re: Fwd: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
blanche.hall
Send Email Send Email
 
Anyone care to comment on this article?
 
Health Care Lie: '47 Million Uninsured Americans'

Michael Moore, politicians and the media use inflated numbers of those without health insurance to promote universal coverage.

By Julia A. Seymour

Business & Media Institute

7/18/2007 4:01:33 PM

Michael Moore was wrong about health insurance.

So were President Bush, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), presidential candidates former Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Mike Huckabee and The Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People magazine and Time magazine, as well as CNN, CBS and ABC.

Each of these people and media outlets incorrectly claimed the number of uninsured to be 40 to 50 million Americans. The actual total is open to debate. But there are millions of people who should be excluded from that tally, including: those who aren't American citizens, people who can afford their own insurance, and people who already qualify for government coverage but haven't signed up.

Government statistics also show 45 percent of those without insurance will have insurance again within four months after job transitions.

Accounting for all those factors, one prominent study places the total for the long-term uninsured as low as 8.2 million

a very different reality than the media and national health care advocates claim.

Breaking It Down: Who's Uninsured?

The number of the uninsured who aren't citizens is nearly 10 million on its own, invalidating all the claims of 40+ million "Americans" without health insurance.

"It's really indefensible that we now have more than 45 million uninsured Americans, 9 million of whom are children, and the vast majority of whom are from working families," said Sen. Hillary Clinton in a May 31 speech.

It was typical spin and easy to find. ABC medical expert Dr. Tim Johnson cited the incorrect data as he praised a "bold" and "politically brilliant" universal coverage plan on the April 26 "Good Morning America."

"It's bold because it does propose to cover all Americans, including the 47 million now who are uninsured, within five years," said Johnson.

In his propagand-umentary "SiCKO" that favored the socialist health care systems of Canada, Britain, France and Cuba, Michael Moore made the fantastic claim that almost 50 million Americans are uninsured.

"SiCKO: There are nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance," quoted Moore's Web site.

However, the Census Bureau report "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005," puts the initial number of uninsured people living in the country at 46.577 million.

A closer look at that report reveals the Census data include 9.487 million people who are "not a citizen." Subtracting the 10 million non-Americans, the number of uninsured Americans falls to roughly 37 million.

Moore should have paid attention to that fact, since he agrees that being "an American" matters to get health insurance. "That's the only preexisting condition that should exist. I am an American. That's it," said Moore in footage aired by ABC's "Nightline" on June 13.

That isn't the only problem with the numbers currently being used.

Moore's Trouble with the Facts

In his film and television appearances, Moore left out quite a bit of information about the uninsured.

On his Web site, Moore claimed the Census Bureau had "underreported" the number of people without health insurance.

But Cheryl Hill Lee, a co-author of the Census Bureau study Moore was citing, told the Business & Media Institute that the data showed the exact opposite of what Moore said.

The Census "underreported" the number of people covered by health insurance

meaning that more people have insurance than the report suggests. The Census also underreported the number of people covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

"They Can't Afford Insurance …"

Many of the same people pushing the incorrect numbers of uninsured Americans also claim that these people cannot "afford" insurance. "And when you've got 47 million people in this country with no health insurance, they don't go to the doctor because they can't afford it," Moore said on CNN's "Larry King Live" July 10.

Katie Couric echoed those sentiment on the CBS "Evening News" May 23.

"The number of Americans with no health insurance is continuing to grow as more and more employers say they can't afford to offer group insurance … People who try to buy insurance on their own often find the price beyond their reach," said Couric as she introduced a two-part "investigation of the health insurance industry."

But according to the same Census report, there are 8.3 million uninsured people who make between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and 8.74 million who make more than $75,000 a year. That's roughly 17 million people who ought to be able to "afford" health insurance because they make substantially more than the median household income of $46,326.

On the July 13 "Larry King Live," Gupta did make that point, providing more context than Moore and most journalists about the affordability of health insurance.

Subtracting non-citizens and those who can afford their own insurance but choose not to purchase it, about 20 million people are left

less than 7 percent of the population.

"Many Americans are uninsured by choice," wrote Dr. David Gratzer in his book "The Cure: How Capitalism Can Save American Health Care." Gratzer cited a study of the "nonpoor uninsured" from the California Healthcare Foundation.

"Why the lack of insurance [among people who own homes and computers]? One clue is that 60 percent reported being in excellent health or very good health," explained Gratzer.

A Lie that Promotes Big Government

Moore, Clinton and Obama have used the lie about 40-some million uninsured Americans to promote universal health insurance plans. Moore asserted in his film that providing health insurance to everyone is a moral and even religious obligation.

The mainstream media have played along, championing "ambitious" universal coverage plans and referring to the U.S. system as "deeply flawed." "California's ambitious plan to make health insurance available to almost everyone in the state is getting a lot of attention all over the country, and here's why. According to the latest figures, the number of uninsured Americans has grown to more than 46 million," said Katie Couric on the "CBS Evening News" January 9.

Journalists' failure to question that high figure has furthered the cause of nationalized care.

"Proponents of universal health care often use the 46-million figure -- without context or qualification. It creates the false impression that a huge percentage of the population has fallen through the cracks," Gratzer told BMI. "Again, that's not to suggest that there is no problem, but it's very different than the universal-care crowd describes."

Dr. Grace-Marie Turner, a BMI adviser and president of the Galen Institute, agreed that "the number [on uninsured] is inflated and affects the debate."

Turner also pointed out that "45 percent of the uninsured are going to have insurance within four months [according to the Congressional Budget Office]," because many are transitioning between jobs and most people get health insurance through their employers.

So what is the true extent of the uninsured "crisis?" The Kaiser Family Foundation, a liberal non-profit frequently quoted by the media, puts the number of uninsured Americans who do not qualify for current government programs and make less than $50,000 a year between 13.9 million and 8.2 million. That is a much smaller figure than the media report.

Kaiser's 8.2 million figure for the chronically uninsured only includes those uninsured for two years or more. It is also worth noting, that, 45 percent of uninsured people will be uninsured for less than four months according to the Congressional Budget Office.



On 1/9/08, Stefanie Levi <stefalala@...> wrote:

Note: forwarded message attached.

__________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joan Malerich < joanmdm@...>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:54:36 -0600
Subject: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/portada.htm


United States Ranks Last in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease

London, January 9 (RHC)-- A new medical study shows that the U.S. ranks
last among industrialized nations in avoiding deaths by preventable
disease. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine found a preventable-disease death rate of 110 for every
100,000 Americans.

According to the new study, the deaths include deaths from infections,
treatable cancers, diabetes, and heart and vascular disease. The
study's authors say it is difficult to ignore the likely connection to
the rising number of medically uninsured Americans.

A recently-released U.S. government report shows that nearly 20 percent
of Americans, or more than 40 million adults, can't afford or (to) access
needed health care. The 2007 report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one-fifth of the population in
the U.S. couldn't afford one or more of these services: medical care,
prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses.

Among other barriers are areas without enough doctors, lack of
transportation to doctors and clinics, and shortages of such organs as
kidneys for transplants.



#2032 From: "John Schwarz" <john@...>
Date: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:09 pm
Subject: Response: Health Care Lie: '47 Million Uninsured Americans'
johnschwarzuhs
Send Email Send Email
 

Anyone care to comment on this article?

 

I care to comment..

 

Major thematic problems in the article:

 

  1. They refer to people who actually are uninsured as being insured, e.g. currently uninsured who will be insured--on avg.--within 4 months.
  2. Pedantic word games about use of the word “American,” "insured/uninsured."

 “Government statistics also show 45 percent of those without insurance will have insurance again within four months after job transitions. Accounting for all those factors, one prominent study places the total for the long-term uninsured as low as 8.2 million.”

 

That 45% figure might be distorted by the use of the “after job transitions” criterion. It might mean that the number of uninsured considered relates only to those who had and then lost job-related insurance. 45% sounds high anyways, and I suspect that there are some shenanigans at play regarding the “job” factor. I’ll assume that the figures are true (though I don’t think they are).

 

The 48 million uninsured statistic is a point in time measure. The number 48 million is consistent (roughly) from day to day, week to week, month to month within one year. That’s factored in the accounting to avoid reflecting an outlier figure at some point.

 

Taking at face value 45% of those uninsured are insured within 4 months, also means that as many—roughly—have become uninsured in that time period to equal—roughly—48 million uninsured at any given point in time. Question to the author Julia A. Seymour: Do those 45% have health insurance at the given point in time of the study or not? Author, yes those 45% are uninsured at the point in time of the measurement. Another way of looking at the uninsured is to measure how many are uninsured at some point in a given period of time, e.g. one year, two years, etc. I can’t remember if the time frame is 1 or 2 years, but the figure is roughly 80 million.

 

“The number of the uninsured who aren't citizens is nearly 10 million on its own, invalidating all the claims of 40+ million "Americans" without health insurance. Subtracting the 10 million non-Americans, the number of uninsured Americans falls to roughly 37 million.”

 

This is pedantry over use of “American.” The categories of people included in the 48 million aren’t merely included in the formal definition of  “American citizens.” It means—in linguistic minefields—residents and non-resident residents, those who live here, stay here for some semi-permanent period of time, i.e., not including tourists, whatever. People who have a “geographic existence” in America. Bogus jr. high word games. Everyone uses the word “American” all the time to refer to more than American “citizens” in multiple contexts when they really mean “American geographic existence.” Please. Question to author Julia A. Seymour: Do those 48 million consist of citizens, other “residents” and resident non-residents, or “geographic existence Americans?” Author, yes the figure includes all of those people and all of them are uninsured in America.

 

“The Census "underreported" the number of people covered by health insurance– meaning that more people have insurance than the report suggests. The Census also underreported the number of people covered by Medicare and Medicaid.”’

 

Without further explanation, can’t say anything about that claim.

 

Many of the same people pushing the incorrect numbers of uninsured Americans also claim that these people cannot "afford" insurance. K. Couric "The number of Americans with no health insurance is continuing to grow as more and more employers say they can't afford to offer group insurance … People who try to buy insurance on their own often find the price beyond their reach"

 

The “employer” issue rears its ugly head again. Potential distortion here based on limited context.

 

Fact, the arithmetic of which I’ve spelled out in detail here several times previously but won’t do right now: 9 million Americans are eligible for employer plans but do not enroll. Of those 9 million, two/thirds (6 million) say the reason they don’t enroll is because they can’t afford it. Thus only 3 million Americans do not have employer insurance but could have it per being eligible and say they can afford it.  Those 3 million are 1% of Americans. Of 16% being uninsured overall, only 1 of those 16 percentage points say they can afford and could have employer coverage but turn it down. Of the rest of the non-employer eligible coverage uninsured, a vast majority says the reason they don’t buy it on their own is because they can’t afford it. This data here is national and also similar figures for MN.

 

“But according to the same Census report, there are 8.3 million uninsured people who make between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and 8.74 million who make more than $75,000 a year. That's roughly 17 million people who ought to be able to "afford" health insurance because they make substantially more than the median household income of $46,326.”

 

The ability buy health insurance coverage is based on several factors other than income: 1. Ability to buy health insurance at all; for some people, no insurer will sell them an insurance policy based of the insurer’s “risk assessment” of the applicant’s likely health care expenses; mostly due to pre-existing conditions. I’m one of those. Due to pre-existing conditions, no insurer will sell me health insurance. 2. The cost of the health insurance itself. Affordability is based on the $ available to spend and the amount needed to be spent to buy something. The amount people have to spend doesn’t mean the cost of insurance is the same for all of them. 3. Family size affects costs. Single vs. 2 adults, 3-kid policy at same $60,000 salary isn’t an equal “affordability” situation. “Who ought to be able to afford” is their key phrase; it’s not “ought to be able” but instead, “are able.” Later in the article the author substitutes “ought to be able to afford” with “can afford.”

 

"Many Americans are uninsured by choice," wrote Dr. David Gratzer; Gratzer cited a study of the "nonpoor uninsured" from the California Healthcare Foundation. Why the lack of insurance [among people who own homes and computers]? One clue is that 60 percent reported being in excellent health or very good health," explained Gratzer.”

 

A vast majority of, um, “Americans,” state--in every study I've seen--that the reason they don’t have insurance is because they can’t afford it. Who is the California Healthcare Foundation? Never heard of them. There are so many ways to spin this concept, but we don’t know that Gratzer/CHF are referring to actual, specific reasons given by people, or imputed figures, per above “ought to be able.” Being in very good+ health doesn’t mean they choose not to buy health insurance. That statistic sounds like it imputes a decision not to buy health insurance regardless of costs. Not trustworthy.

 

So what is the true extent of the uninsured "crisis?" The Kaiser Family Foundation…puts the number of uninsured Americans who do not qualify for current government programs and make less than $50,000 a year between 13.9 million and 8.2 million. That is a much smaller figure than the media report.

 

Ability get health insurance through whatever means doesn’t make an uninsured person insured. The problem of inability to pay for their care if it’s higher than they can afford out-of-pocket is the exact same problem (s) of an uninsured person due to inability to afford or get coverage who aren’t able to pay. Cost-shifting, delayed care and attendant higher costs later, etc. are ramifications of most uninsured for catastrophic care, high other care, etc. The crisis isn’t merely being uninsured, it is the ramifications for the health system and the rest of us—costs, worse medical and health outcomes, etc.

 

Question to author: Do any of those people referred to above have insurance at the point in time of the measurement or not? Author: “No, none of them have insurance at that time, they are all uninsured.” Period.
 
John Schwarz
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: January 11, 2008 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: [uhcan-mn] Fwd: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease

Anyone care to comment on this article?
 
Health Care Lie: '47 Million Uninsured Americans'

Michael Moore, politicians and the media use inflated numbers of those without health insurance to promote universal coverage.

By Julia A. Seymour

Business & Media Institute

7/18/2007 4:01:33 PM

Michael Moore was wrong about health insurance.

So were President Bush, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), presidential candidates former Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Mike Huckabee and The Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People magazine and Time magazine, as well as CNN, CBS and ABC.

Each of these people and media outlets incorrectly claimed the number of uninsured to be 40 to 50 million Americans. The actual total is open to debate. But there are millions of people who should be excluded from that tally, including: those who aren't American citizens, people who can afford their own insurance, and people who already qualify for government coverage but haven't signed up.

Government statistics also show 45 percent of those without insurance will have insurance again within four months after job transitions.

Accounting for all those factors, one prominent study places the total for the long-term uninsured as low as 8.2 million

a very different reality than the media and national health care advocates claim.

Breaking It Down: Who's Uninsured?

The number of the uninsured who aren't citizens is nearly 10 million on its own, invalidating all the claims of 40+ million "Americans" without health insurance.

"It's really indefensible that we now have more than 45 million uninsured Americans, 9 million of whom are children, and the vast majority of whom are from working families," said Sen. Hillary Clinton in a May 31 speech.

It was typical spin and easy to find. ABC medical expert Dr. Tim Johnson cited the incorrect data as he praised a "bold" and "politically brilliant" universal coverage plan on the April 26 "Good Morning America."

"It's bold because it does propose to cover all Americans, including the 47 million now who are uninsured, within five years," said Johnson.

In his propagand-umentary "SiCKO" that favored the socialist health care systems of Canada, Britain, France and Cuba, Michael Moore made the fantastic claim that almost 50 million Americans are uninsured.

"SiCKO: There are nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance," quoted Moore's Web site.

However, the Census Bureau report "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005," puts the initial number of uninsured people living in the country at 46.577 million.

A closer look at that report reveals the Census data include 9.487 million people who are "not a citizen." Subtracting the 10 million non-Americans, the number of uninsured Americans falls to roughly 37 million.

Moore should have paid attention to that fact, since he agrees that being "an American" matters to get health insurance. "That's the only preexisting condition that should exist. I am an American. That's it," said Moore in footage aired by ABC's "Nightline" on June 13.

That isn't the only problem with the numbers currently being used.

Moore's Trouble with the Facts

In his film and television appearances, Moore left out quite a bit of information about the uninsured.

On his Web site, Moore claimed the Census Bureau had "underreported" the number of people without health insurance.

But Cheryl Hill Lee, a co-author of the Census Bureau study Moore was citing, told the Business & Media Institute that the data showed the exact opposite of what Moore said.

The Census "underreported" the number of people covered by health insurance

meaning that more people have insurance than the report suggests. The Census also underreported the number of people covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

"They Can't Afford Insurance …"

Many of the same people pushing the incorrect numbers of uninsured Americans also claim that these people cannot "afford" insurance. "And when you've got 47 million people in this country with no health insurance, they don't go to the doctor because they can't afford it," Moore said on CNN's "Larry King Live" July 10.

Katie Couric echoed those sentiment on the CBS "Evening News" May 23.

"The number of Americans with no health insurance is continuing to grow as more and more employers say they can't afford to offer group insurance … People who try to buy insurance on their own often find the price beyond their reach," said Couric as she introduced a two-part "investigation of the health insurance industry."

But according to the same Census report, there are 8.3 million uninsured people who make between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and 8.74 million who make more than $75,000 a year. That's roughly 17 million people who ought to be able to "afford" health insurance because they make substantially more than the median household income of $46,326.

On the July 13 "Larry King Live," Gupta did make that point, providing more context than Moore and most journalists about the affordability of health insurance.

Subtracting non-citizens and those who can afford their own insurance but choose not to purchase it, about 20 million people are left

less than 7 percent of the population.

"Many Americans are uninsured by choice," wrote Dr. David Gratzer in his book "The Cure: How Capitalism Can Save American Health Care." Gratzer cited a study of the "nonpoor uninsured" from the California Healthcare Foundation.

"Why the lack of insurance [among people who own homes and computers]? One clue is that 60 percent reported being in excellent health or very good health," explained Gratzer.

A Lie that Promotes Big Government

Moore, Clinton and Obama have used the lie about 40-some million uninsured Americans to promote universal health insurance plans. Moore asserted in his film that providing health insurance to everyone is a moral and even religious obligation.

The mainstream media have played along, championing "ambitious" universal coverage plans and referring to the U.S. system as "deeply flawed." "California's ambitious plan to make health insurance available to almost everyone in the state is getting a lot of attention all over the country, and here's why. According to the latest figures, the number of uninsured Americans has grown to more than 46 million," said Katie Couric on the "CBS Evening News" January 9.

Journalists' failure to question that high figure has furthered the cause of nationalized care.

"Proponents of universal health care often use the 46-million figure -- without context or qualification. It creates the false impression that a huge percentage of the population has fallen through the cracks," Gratzer told BMI. "Again, that's not to suggest that there is no problem, but it's very different than the universal-care crowd describes."

Dr. Grace-Marie Turner, a BMI adviser and president of the Galen Institute, agreed that "the number [on uninsured] is inflated and affects the debate."

Turner also pointed out that "45 percent of the uninsured are going to have insurance within four months [according to the Congressional Budget Office]," because many are transitioning between jobs and most people get health insurance through their employers.

So what is the true extent of the uninsured "crisis?" The Kaiser Family Foundation, a liberal non-profit frequently quoted by the media, puts the number of uninsured Americans who do not qualify for current government programs and make less than $50,000 a year between 13.9 million and 8.2 million. That is a much smaller figure than the media report.

Kaiser's 8.2 million figure for the chronically uninsured only includes those uninsured for two years or more. It is also worth noting, that, 45 percent of uninsured people will be uninsured for less than four months according to the Congressional Budget Office.



On 1/9/08, Stefanie Levi <stefalala@yahoo.com> wrote:

Note: forwarded message attached.

__________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joan Malerich < joanmdm@iphouse.com>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:54:36 -0600
Subject: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/portada.htm
United States Ranks Last in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
London, January 9 (RHC)-- A new medical study shows that the U.S. ranks
last among industrialized nations in avoiding deaths by preventable
disease. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine found a preventable-disease death rate of 110 for every
100,000 Americans.
According to the new study, the deaths include deaths from infections,
treatable cancers, diabetes, and heart and vascular disease. The
study's authors say it is difficult to ignore the likely connection to
the rising number of medically uninsured Americans.
A recently-released U.S. government report shows that nearly 20 percent
of Americans, or more than 40 million adults, can't afford or (to) access
needed health care. The 2007 report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one-fifth of the population in
the U.S. couldn't afford one or more of these services: medical care,
prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses.
Among other barriers are areas without enough doctors, lack of
transportation to doctors and clinics, and shortages of such organs as
kidneys for transplants.



#2033 From: "Bob Johnson" <pastorbob@...>
Date: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:03 pm
Subject: Re: Fwd: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
pastorbob@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Greetings,
 
So who is telling the truth?  At the very beginning I want to assert that we have "onbe national pie, and how we cut it up, will make or break us.  Since we act as though there is no ultimate truth and only truth that supplies the need of the moment, and if self interest is the only governing factor, our nation is one the way to failure.  This gives total homage to the almighty dollar (Slipping badly in the world markets) and we seem to be suffering from a hidden agenda of "me first and the rest of the world be damned."  We point at the amount of foreign aide we give, but fail to mention that we use 35-38% pf the world's non-renewable resources with barely 7% of the world's population. 
 
Looking at the past record of the Bush Administration I would have great difficulty with their information, especially when they lied to the world about weapons of mass destruction; won't give the statistics they have on the number of deaths of civilians in Iraq, and other wars.   Since they also seem to want to control every facet of the government and its release of information (I.e. the photographs of flag draped coffins of soldiers coming back from Iraq, for which the reporter was fired); I have no confidence in their reporting.  Then comes the information that the congress (Seems not to matter the party)  has spent nearly $2.3 trillion dollars out of the Social Security Trust Fund for non-Social expenditures. At the same time we are hearing that we need to privitize Social ecurity-- Is it or isn't it true information?  If it is, then why does Congress and the President) argue that the systemk will be broke in a few years and so we need to privatize Social Security.
 
The more I read the more corrupt our government looks from the top down. We have some very good friends in Germany, one of them is a lawyer and another is a international financer in stocks and bonds--both believe the US is headed toward disaster, and the financer is indicating he has great fears for our economy. Further, the bonds we need to continue are being purchased by the very people we distruct, China, and others in that same political group.  We gloss over several billions of dollars for equipment that never reaches the troops, and we spend more on war than anything else, primarily picking on those lease able to defend themselves.  For those who have the "bucks" seem to live in a bankrupt morality and ethics as long ago been laid to rest in the grave of selfishness.
 
It seems that Michael Moore's first film opened up a "can of worms" about the auto industry, for that matter the whole military/industrial complex, which now seems to be coming true as thousands of workers are being laid off--could the same be true for the "Sicko" movie?  There is a book written by Dr. Helen Caldicott entitled "Missile Envy."  Her opening statement for her book is, ""I write this book with a tremendous sense of urgency--as a mother, as a pediatrician, and as a woman--aware that we live on a planer that is terminally ill."  At the end of the book she quotes President Dwight D. Eisenhower, "Every gun that is made, every warship that is launched, every rocket fired signifies, in a final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and north clothed.  This world in arms is not spending money alone.  It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children....This is not a way of life at all in any true sense.  Under the cloud of threatening war, it is a humanity hanging from a cross of iron."
 
We can argue numbers forever.  Witness the polls of this last primary, few if any had their figures correct--not ever close, and the notion of just what is happening; or the truth of the numbers are suspect to say the least.  Tragically, we seem to live on sound bites, with little effort to look deeper that the most immediate and current information  Personally, when I heard the deaths are down and civilian deaths are diminishing, I am not relieved--the slaughter of peoples to the supplest of our leaders seems to go on and on, are we who sit as spectators of life watch the game and only hope its more destructive aspects will not touch us directly.
 
I just attended a Noble Conference on "Global Warming and the Energy Crisis"  at Gustavus Adolphus Collerge in St. Peter in 2007.  Two things struck me; 1) most of our local stations did not mention the conference to any length at all (though well over 2000 Minnesotans attended)-several did not mention it at all, and the speakers all talked about the urgency of facing the problem of global warming, and that energy supplies were being depeted rapidedly--military actions "wasted" energy far faster than any one else.. 2) The thought occurred to me again and again, "The expression of the human spirit will make or break the planet."  If we continue on our highly individualistic patterns, and make no choice for the good of all, we have lost our moral/ethical standing in the world's mindset and siaster awaits all of us, rich and poor alike.  This then raises the question for me, what is my answer to the question--"Am I my brothers/sisters keeper?"  Lt. General Richard Sanchez states it this way, "America is living a nightmare with no end in sight." 
 
Blanche, I would have a couple of questions of you--Do you have insurance?  If you do, have you ever lived for more than a year without insurance?  I will tell you I have always had insurance, but if I did not have insurance--all the figures quoted would mean nothing, and I would be filing for bankruptcyue to present day medication costs. Personal experience, I have learned to distrust almost any and all information coming out of Washington--no matter the administration.  The philosophy  that Democracy is "...of the people, by the people, and for the people" seems to have been erased from the national psyche, and great numbers of people are not voting.   Early in my employment I worked as a social worker in Montana.  People would always asked me if the Indians made up my clientele--amazing in three years I had two Native Americans darken my office door asking for help--yet the prevailing attitude was all Native Americans were all on welfare.  It seems we live in a time where money is the bottom line and people are disposable--especially those at the lower end of the economic ladder. 
 
Any suggestions where one goes for unbiased facts?  Do they exist?  I know statistics can lie anyway you want them to lie--I learned that while finishing one of my minors being math.  I read on average five different publications a week, and  the newspaper in addition.   I must say I am in dispair about the truthfulness of most of our public information.
 
Sincerely,
 
Bob

Security
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: [uhcan-mn] Fwd: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease

Anyone care to comment on this article?
 
Health Care Lie: '47 Million Uninsured Americans'

Michael Moore, politicians and the media use inflated numbers of those without health insurance to promote universal coverage.

By Julia A. Seymour

Business & Media Institute

7/18/2007 4:01:33 PM

Michael Moore was wrong about health insurance.

So were President Bush, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), presidential candidates former Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Mike Huckabee and The Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People magazine and Time magazine, as well as CNN, CBS and ABC.

Each of these people and media outlets incorrectly claimed the number of uninsured to be 40 to 50 million Americans. The actual total is open to debate. But there are millions of people who should be excluded from that tally, including: those who aren't American citizens, people who can afford their own insurance, and people who already qualify for government coverage but haven't signed up.

Government statistics also show 45 percent of those without insurance will have insurance again within four months after job transitions.

Accounting for all those factors, one prominent study places the total for the long-term uninsured as low as 8.2 million

a very different reality than the media and national health care advocates claim.

Breaking It Down: Who's Uninsured?

The number of the uninsured who aren't citizens is nearly 10 million on its own, invalidating all the claims of 40+ million "Americans" without health insurance.

"It's really indefensible that we now have more than 45 million uninsured Americans, 9 million of whom are children, and the vast majority of whom are from working families," said Sen. Hillary Clinton in a May 31 speech.

It was typical spin and easy to find. ABC medical expert Dr. Tim Johnson cited the incorrect data as he praised a "bold" and "politically brilliant" universal coverage plan on the April 26 "Good Morning America."

"It's bold because it does propose to cover all Americans, including the 47 million now who are uninsured, within five years," said Johnson.

In his propagand-umentary "SiCKO" that favored the socialist health care systems of Canada, Britain, France and Cuba, Michael Moore made the fantastic claim that almost 50 million Americans are uninsured.

"SiCKO: There are nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance," quoted Moore's Web site.

However, the Census Bureau report "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005," puts the initial number of uninsured people living in the country at 46.577 million.

A closer look at that report reveals the Census data include 9.487 million people who are "not a citizen." Subtracting the 10 million non-Americans, the number of uninsured Americans falls to roughly 37 million.

Moore should have paid attention to that fact, since he agrees that being "an American" matters to get health insurance. "That's the only preexisting condition that should exist. I am an American. That's it," said Moore in footage aired by ABC's "Nightline" on June 13.

That isn't the only problem with the numbers currently being used.

Moore's Trouble with the Facts

In his film and television appearances, Moore left out quite a bit of information about the uninsured.

On his Web site, Moore claimed the Census Bureau had "underreported" the number of people without health insurance.

But Cheryl Hill Lee, a co-author of the Census Bureau study Moore was citing, told the Business & Media Institute that the data showed the exact opposite of what Moore said.

The Census "underreported" the number of people covered by health insurance

meaning that more people have insurance than the report suggests. The Census also underreported the number of people covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

"They Can't Afford Insurance …"

Many of the same people pushing the incorrect numbers of uninsured Americans also claim that these people cannot "afford" insurance. "And when you've got 47 million people in this country with no health insurance, they don't go to the doctor because they can't afford it," Moore said on CNN's "Larry King Live" July 10.

Katie Couric echoed those sentiment on the CBS "Evening News" May 23.

"The number of Americans with no health insurance is continuing to grow as more and more employers say they can't afford to offer group insurance … People who try to buy insurance on their own often find the price beyond their reach," said Couric as she introduced a two-part "investigation of the health insurance industry."

But according to the same Census report, there are 8.3 million uninsured people who make between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and 8.74 million who make more than $75,000 a year. That's roughly 17 million people who ought to be able to "afford" health insurance because they make substantially more than the median household income of $46,326.

On the July 13 "Larry King Live," Gupta did make that point, providing more context than Moore and most journalists about the affordability of health insurance.

Subtracting non-citizens and those who can afford their own insurance but choose not to purchase it, about 20 million people are left

less than 7 percent of the population.

"Many Americans are uninsured by choice," wrote Dr. David Gratzer in his book "The Cure: How Capitalism Can Save American Health Care." Gratzer cited a study of the "nonpoor uninsured" from the California Healthcare Foundation.

"Why the lack of insurance [among people who own homes and computers]? One clue is that 60 percent reported being in excellent health or very good health," explained Gratzer.

A Lie that Promotes Big Government

Moore, Clinton and Obama have used the lie about 40-some million uninsured Americans to promote universal health insurance plans. Moore asserted in his film that providing health insurance to everyone is a moral and even religious obligation.

The mainstream media have played along, championing "ambitious" universal coverage plans and referring to the U.S. system as "deeply flawed." "California's ambitious plan to make health insurance available to almost everyone in the state is getting a lot of attention all over the country, and here's why. According to the latest figures, the number of uninsured Americans has grown to more than 46 million," said Katie Couric on the "CBS Evening News" January 9.

Journalists' failure to question that high figure has furthered the cause of nationalized care.

"Proponents of universal health care often use the 46-million figure -- without context or qualification. It creates the false impression that a huge percentage of the population has fallen through the cracks," Gratzer told BMI. "Again, that's not to suggest that there is no problem, but it's very different than the universal-care crowd describes."

Dr. Grace-Marie Turner, a BMI adviser and president of the Galen Institute, agreed that "the number [on uninsured] is inflated and affects the debate."

Turner also pointed out that "45 percent of the uninsured are going to have insurance within four months [according to the Congressional Budget Office]," because many are transitioning between jobs and most people get health insurance through their employers.

So what is the true extent of the uninsured "crisis?" The Kaiser Family Foundation, a liberal non-profit frequently quoted by the media, puts the number of uninsured Americans who do not qualify for current government programs and make less than $50,000 a year between 13.9 million and 8.2 million. That is a much smaller figure than the media report.

Kaiser's 8.2 million figure for the chronically uninsured only includes those uninsured for two years or more. It is also worth noting, that, 45 percent of uninsured people will be uninsured for less than four months according to the Congressional Budget Office.



On 1/9/08, Stefanie Levi <stefalala@yahoo.com> wrote:

Note: forwarded message attached.

__________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joan Malerich < joanmdm@iphouse.com>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:54:36 -0600
Subject: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/portada.htm
United States Ranks Last in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
London, January 9 (RHC)-- A new medical study shows that the U.S. ranks
last among industrialized nations in avoiding deaths by preventable
disease. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine found a preventable-disease death rate of 110 for every
100,000 Americans.
According to the new study, the deaths include deaths from infections,
treatable cancers, diabetes, and heart and vascular disease. The
study's authors say it is difficult to ignore the likely connection to
the rising number of medically uninsured Americans.
A recently-released U.S. government report shows that nearly 20 percent
of Americans, or more than 40 million adults, can't afford or (to) access
needed health care. The 2007 report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one-fifth of the population in
the U.S. couldn't afford one or more of these services: medical care,
prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses.
Among other barriers are areas without enough doctors, lack of
transportation to doctors and clinics, and shortages of such organs as
kidneys for transplants.



#2034 From: Stefanie Levi <stefalala@...>
Date: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:08 pm
Subject: The Doctor--(MLK, JR.) Would Approve: Beautiful, Very Long Piece from the Desk of Brother Fidel
stefalala
Send Email Send Email
 
Hello, UHCAN Family!

Thank goodness Sister Joan Malerich--(a. k. a. "Cuba
Joan")--still sends me all this incredible stuff!
I'm passing it on to anyone who cares enough to read
for knowledge and inspiration.  You can jump around or
skim and just read the bits most interesting to you...

Government-funded, universal single payer health care
for anyone living in the u. s. and deep ecology-based
Socialism or Nothing!

En Solidaridad En La Lucha!

Stefanie Levi

Note: forwarded message attached.




      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
Stephanie, would you consider passsing this on to the Uh-Can list.  Perhaps, you could add a little commentary making connections that show what the US health care system is lacking--humanity.
Socialism or Nothing!---Joan
===============================================
Elena Pedraza: "The motto of this Congress -- Disability, Rehabilitation, Humanity --
commits us to evaluate much more all that we are offering to the disabled. We make an effort to offer rehabilitation, but when this motto extends to the word 'Humanity,' I realize that it is not just
one simple word more; rather it is a very deep plea: humanity and dignity for human beings. 
Fidel Notes at end: Elena Pedraza is 97 years old and continues to offer her professional services as a consultant. She is a fine example of intellectual, woman
and Communist. She was a member of the same party as Ricardo Fonseca, Luis Corvalán, Volodia Teitelboim and Gladys Marín, who recently passed away, and many others who dedicated their lives or died for their beliefs.
Bolding, underlining, highlighting are mine.
Socialism or Nothing!---Joan
===================================================
Prensa Latina, Havana - Jan 8, 2008
http://www.plenglish.com
Reflections by the Commander in Chief AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD COMMUNIST BEHAVIOUR 
by Fidel Castro Ruz
I am referring to a Chilean woman, Elena Pedraza, a highly educated
specialist in rehabilitation. More than 40 years ago she paid her first
visit to Cuba. Allende, a medical doctor, was not yet the president of
Chile. The Cuban Revolution was almost 8 years old and it was already
training teachers, doctors, physical therapists and health specialists,
full speed ahead.
I am writing this reflection partly as a summary of six pages printed
in small letters that have landed in my hands. It is a bit longer than
usual, but done with the thought that later the full version of the
speech given by the Chilean specialist on the morning of March 15, 2002
at the Second International Congress of the Cuban Society for Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation taking place in the capital of Cuba will be
published by the press somewhere or in some magazine. Let us listen to
her explain in her own words: 
"I arrived in 1966 and Cuba was beginning an historic phase. Its
beginnings were punctuated with great difficulties and shortages; they
had to solve urgent problems, among which those dealing with health
were considered to be a top priority... Personnel trained in this
specialty were needed and so their education had to be addressed and
time was of the essence; but it had to be done, despite all the
limitations existing in the country...."
"Nevertheless, society acquires more and more awareness about the
marginal world in which the disabled live. In Cuba, for example, there
was only a small number of empirical therapists, some of whom had been
trained in the United States during summer courses, and others had left
the country.
"The Health Minister at that time, Dr. Machado Ventura, told me upon
meeting me: 'we must train physical therapists for the entire country,
and we have to do it soon.' I answered in the affirmative and I asked
him what such a mission would entail; he answered: 'we need books.'
Without hesitating he emphasized: 'We need books".' I never forgot that
suggestion, for me it became a commitment that I have always tried to
honour.
"My training in kinesiology began in 1930... My work experiences during
30 years in my country, Chile, were difficult... I completed by
working years in Chile, but I had no hesitations about returning to
take up this commitment in Cuba, in 1966.
"My first contacts took place in the Frank País Hospital. This centre
was very well equipped for treating both child and adult patients in
the specialty of traumatology and orthopaedics. It was explained to me
that previously this centre had offered very selective care and a very
tiny portion of the neediest population was able to have access to
these services.
"As I was learning about the medium in which I was to be working, I
could see the need for a very great undertaking that would also take a
long time. At that time I was already able to see the State's concern
in taking on the population's right to health throughout the entire
country and in rehabilitation.
"We had to begin. I visited much of the country, getting to know some
of its parts: I was in Santiago de Cuba, a very beautiful colonial
city. There I made my first attempt to carry out an elementary training
course, in a small centre for the treatment of patients suffering from
various neuromotor disorders. It was headed by Dr. González Corona...
This doctor fabricated his own elements to treat his patients. He was
telling me how he himself had built the devices from scrap aluminium
sheeting so that children suffering from polio could walk; he also made
parallel bars and built a rustic swimming pool for water exercises.
"In 1966, I officially begin to teach another more scheduled course on
Kinesiology for the physiotherapy students at the Frank País
Hospital... At that opportunity I understood how relevant it was to
bring the most important books in order to teach correctly. There were
no study materials, we had to do it all with whatever means we had. But
the students' interest to learn was so intense, as was mine to teach,
having no references and outside of my specialty, but rather involving
my experiences acquired in my country and a sense of responsibility
that I think I have had all my life in my work in hospital clinics.
"This was the beginning that became my model for future courses that
were to be given and with the experience accumulated we adjusted each
year's programmes with great dedication. At the end of these, which
ended up being three years, experience allowed us to go on to prepare
comprehensive teaching material; in other words, the fundamental basics
of a programme of this type for regular courses.
"In my stay at this hospital I was able to accumulate a lot of
experience that would be very valuable to me during the years I was
developing my work in Cuba.

The path towards the development of what today is rehabilitation in
Cuba was born in these episodes that I am telling you about, what this
specialty was and how it grew year after year, throughout the entire
island, until what we can appreciate today at this Congress.
"I made informational visits to hospitals and polyclinics located in
peripheral areas, in all areas of the country, even in the most
isolated of places. In some of them I discovered the existence of small
modest physiotherapy departments which were being organized. Others
which had already been installed were offering services to the people,
but to a large extent lacking trained staff able to provide care in
this specialty... It was interesting to see everyone's efforts to
solve, step by step, this journey that we were all involved in. This
experience was very important for me; I could see how from the
Ministries of Health and Education, suitable departments were being
created to offer more thorough training to future students; for
example, raising the levels of instruction for enrollment in kinesiology
courses, and also integrating courses in programmes related to the
specialty.
"In 1979 I gave my first lectures as a professor of kinesiology in the
teaching programmes for residents in the specialty of physical medicine
and rehabilitation. I taught them to always be in control of
evaluation, avoid being imprecise and making unfavourable comments in
order to correctly carry out their plan of action. I was able to
recognize that this must always be an ethical norm, and thus would
prevent the patient from feeling diminished at the beginning of a
treatment.
"My years spent at Julio Díaz were very enriching and they allowed me
to get to know all the situations experienced by a disabled person; the
centre had hospital facilities, out-patient care and looked after a
large population. As I am writing my memories, I return to that distant
time. I must say that I was able to get to know a generous people who
had a lot of solidarity. The hospital continued being better equipped
with new elements that would offer more complete patient care; every
year new [disabilities] were being treated, and the building as well
continued to grow until it reached the size it is today, that of a small
fortress...  I came to realize that a therapist does not forget the
theoretical basis and the practices he was taught, nor can he forget to
keep on studying, and at the same time updating.
"I came to regard this centre with the affection one has for one's
home. I cannot help but remember so many things that I experienced,
with so many colleagues, therapists, doctors, auxiliary staff, everyone
always respecting me with great warmth... I must also recall
spending time in other hospitals where I taught, held conferences and
training sessions, such as in the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, and
others. In the 1970's, with the goal of contributing to the development
of medicine in Cuba, we Chileans who were living in exile (even though
I never felt like an exile in Cuba) decided to pitch in to acquire 23
volumes of books dealing with the specialty of kinesiology therapy.
This happened as a response to the scant possibility of receiving
foreign texts, which were so necessary to improve teaching and the
training of professionals... "This Congress affords us a very complete view of what rehabilitation
is doing throughout the country. This reflects the concern of the
government and of the medical corps, and also the desire for
professional development by staff making up the rehabilitation teams who
work in this specialty...
"The motto of this Congress -- Disability, Rehabilitation, Humanity --
commits us to evaluate much more all that we are offering to the
disabled. We make an effort to offer rehabilitation, but when this
motto extends to the word 'Humanity,' I realize that it is not just
one simple word more; rather it is a very deep plea: humanity and
dignity for human beings. 
"In this international Congress, the great volume of work being done by
Cuban doctors and the other members of rehabilitation teams is
recognized; their experiences are demonstrated in all areas of the
medical specialties and this reveals the constant dedication and sense
of responsibility in the national and foreign papers presented at the
Congress... "I should like to send an affectionate and friendly greeting to the
young people who were my students, who are now professionals
overflowing with experience and prestige; with them I took part in such
gratifying tasks as voluntary work, which in Cuba has always been a
complement to the work of each citizen...." (Havana, March, 2002.)
***
When the fascist coup took place in Chile, funded by the government
of the United States, and thousands of citizens are imprisoned,
tortured, vanished or murdered, within or outside the borders of their
country, Elena Pedraza moved to Cuba, and from here she moved to
different countries, gathering world support for women. She continued
to develop her research in our country as well as her training
programme. Later, she returned to her native land, and from there she
continues to collaborate with Cuba.

A few days ago I was able to leaf through an excellent book whose
author, Dr. Debra Rose, is a citizen of the United States -- where
rehabilitation is a very costly and elitist service, inaccessible to
the poor. Cuba is forbidden access to this knowledge. Elena, who never
tires of sending information that could raise the scientific levels of
our specialists, sent that book, among other materials, which contains
more than a hundred different simple and accessible exercises.
Nowadays rehabilitation acquires special and new meaning as it relates
to life. Everyone is increasing their mental and physical potential up
to the age of 35; some maintain that it is 30. From that age on, they
can go on for two or three more decades enjoying good health and
physical performance, holding on to them from the above-mentioned age
until advanced years at the end of which, life is extinguished. Human
beings are content to look after themselves until the end.
The service is of benefit to all the inhabitants of this country, where
today they are born having a life expectancy of 77 years and which
continues to increase. Not only adults who are younger than 35 or 40,
victims of all kinds of accidents, but also more and more children
require the noble care provided by the rehabilitator.
In more than 600 centres, located in polyclinics and hospitals, or
offering their services abroad, about ten thousand rehabilitators are
at work, while a thousand more are being trained with increasing
thoroughness and exigency.

Elena Pedraza is 97 years old and continues to offer her professional
services as a consultant. She is a fine example of intellectual, woman
and Communist. She was a member of the same party as Ricardo Fonseca,
Luis Corvalán, Volodia Teitelboim and Gladys Marín, who recently passed
away, and many others who dedicated their lives or died for their
beliefs.
On behalf of the people who, challenging the empire, began the path of
the Socialist Revolution more than half a century ago, I pay tribute to
their work and to their example.
Havana, January 7, 2008, 5:12 p.m.

#2035 From: "Blanche Hall" <blanche.hall@...>
Date: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:01 pm
Subject: Re: Fwd: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
blanche.hall
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Greetings Bob, 
 
There is a book by Phil Nurenberger called The Warrior Sage -- if you are wondering where to find facts and unbiased information, I recommend reading this book  :).  His commentaries on how we create politicians out of our culture are fairly interesting as well.
 
I wish you good luck in your fact-finding journies.
 
Blanche

 
On 1/11/08, Bob Johnson <pastorbob@...> wrote:

Greetings,
 
So who is telling the truth?  At the very beginning I want to assert that we have "onbe national pie, and how we cut it up, will make or break us.  Since we act as though there is no ultimate truth and only truth that supplies the need of the moment, and if self interest is the only governing factor, our nation is one the way to failure.  This gives total homage to the almighty dollar (Slipping badly in the world markets) and we seem to be suffering from a hidden agenda of "me first and the rest of the world be damned."  We point at the amount of foreign aide we give, but fail to mention that we use 35-38% pf the world's non-renewable resources with barely 7% of the world's population. 
 
Looking at the past record of the Bush Administration I would have great difficulty with their information, especially when they lied to the world about weapons of mass destruction; won't give the statistics they have on the number of deaths of civilians in Iraq, and other wars.   Since they also seem to want to control every facet of the government and its release of information ( I.e. the photographs of flag draped coffins of soldiers coming back from Iraq, for which the reporter was fired); I have no confidence in their reporting.  Then comes the information that the congress (Seems not to matter the party)  has spent nearly $2.3 trillion dollars out of the Social Security Trust Fund for non-Social expenditures. At the same time we are hearing that we need to privitize Social ecurity-- Is it or isn't it true information?  If it is, then why does Congress and the President) argue that the systemk will be broke in a few years and so we need to privatize Social Security.
 
The more I read the more corrupt our government looks from the top down. We have some very good friends in Germany, one of them is a lawyer and another is a international financer in stocks and bonds--both believe the US is headed toward disaster, and the financer is indicating he has great fears for our economy. Further, the bonds we need to continue are being purchased by the very people we distruct, China, and others in that same political group.  We gloss over several billions of dollars for equipment that never reaches the troops, and we spend more on war than anything else, primarily picking on those lease able to defend themselves.  For those who have the "bucks" seem to live in a bankrupt morality and ethics as long ago been laid to rest in the grave of selfishness.
 
It seems that Michael Moore's first film opened up a "can of worms" about the auto industry, for that matter the whole military/industrial complex, which now seems to be coming true as thousands of workers are being laid off--could the same be true for the "Sicko" movie?  There is a book written by Dr. Helen Caldicott entitled "Missile Envy."  Her opening statement for her book is, ""I write this book with a tremendous sense of urgency--as a mother, as a pediatrician, and as a woman--aware that we live on a planer that is terminally ill."   At the end of the book she quotes President Dwight D. Eisenhower, "Every gun that is made, every warship that is launched, every rocket fired signifies, in a final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and north clothed.  This world in arms is not spending money alone.  It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children....This is not a way of life at all in any true sense.  Under the cloud of threatening war, it is a humanity hanging from a cross of iron."
 
We can argue numbers forever.  Witness the polls of this last primary, few if any had their figures correct--not ever close, and the notion of just what is happening; or the truth of the numbers are suspect to say the least.  Tragically, we seem to live on sound bites, with little effort to look deeper that the most immediate and current information  Personally, when I heard the deaths are down and civilian deaths are diminishing, I am not relieved--the slaughter of peoples to the supplest of our leaders seems to go on and on, are we who sit as spectators of life watch the game and only hope its more destructive aspects will not touch us directly.
 
I just attended a Noble Conference on "Global Warming and the Energy Crisis"  at Gustavus Adolphus Collerge in St. Peter in 2007.  Two things struck me; 1) most of our local stations did not mention the conference to any length at all (though well over 2000 Minnesotans attended)-several did not mention it at all, and the speakers all talked about the urgency of facing the problem of global warming, and that energy supplies were being depeted rapidedly--military actions "wasted" energy far faster than any one else.. 2) The thought occurred to me again and again, "The expression of the human spirit will make or break the planet."  If we continue on our highly individualistic patterns, and make no choice for the good of all, we have lost our moral/ethical standing in the world's mindset and siaster awaits all of us, rich and poor alike.  This then raises the question for me, what is my answer to the question--"Am I my brothers/sisters keeper?"  Lt. General Richard Sanchez states it this way, "America is living a nightmare with no end in sight." 
 
Blanche, I would have a couple of questions of you--Do you have insurance?  If you do, have you ever lived for more than a year without insurance?  I will tell you I have always had insurance, but if I did not have insurance--all the figures quoted would mean nothing, and I would be filing for bankruptcyue to present day medication costs. Personal experience, I have learned to distrust almost any and all information coming out of Washington--no matter the administration.  The philosophy  that Democracy is "...of the people, by the people, and for the people" seems to have been erased from the national psyche, and great numbers of people are not voting.   Early in my employment I worked as a social worker in Montana.  People would always asked me if the Indians made up my clientele--amazing in three years I had two Native Americans darken my office door asking for help--yet the prevailing attitude was all Native Americans were all on welfare.  It seems we live in a time where money is the bottom line and people are disposable--especially those at the lower end of the economic ladder. 
 
Any suggestions where one goes for unbiased facts?  Do they exist?  I know statistics can lie anyway you want them to lie--I learned that while finishing one of my minors being math.  I read on average five different publications a week, and  the newspaper in addition.   I must say I am in dispair about the truthfulness of most of our public information.
 
Sincerely,
 
Bob

Security
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: [uhcan-mn] Fwd: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease

 

Anyone care to comment on this article?
 
Health Care Lie: '47 Million Uninsured Americans'

Michael Moore, politicians and the media use inflated numbers of those without health insurance to promote universal coverage.

By Julia A. Seymour

Business & Media Institute

7/18/2007 4:01:33 PM

Michael Moore was wrong about health insurance.

So were President Bush, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), presidential candidates former Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Mike Huckabee and The Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People magazine and Time magazine, as well as CNN, CBS and ABC.

Each of these people and media outlets incorrectly claimed the number of uninsured to be 40 to 50 million Americans. The actual total is open to debate. But there are millions of people who should be excluded from that tally, including: those who aren't American citizens, people who can afford their own insurance, and people who already qualify for government coverage but haven't signed up.

Government statistics also show 45 percent of those without insurance will have insurance again within four months after job transitions.

Accounting for all those factors, one prominent study places the total for the long-term uninsured as low as 8.2 million

a very different reality than the media and national health care advocates claim.

Breaking It Down: Who's Uninsured?

The number of the uninsured who aren't citizens is nearly 10 million on its own, invalidating all the claims of 40+ million "Americans" without health insurance.

"It's really indefensible that we now have more than 45 million uninsured Americans, 9 million of whom are children, and the vast majority of whom are from working families," said Sen. Hillary Clinton in a May 31 speech.

It was typical spin and easy to find. ABC medical expert Dr. Tim Johnson cited the incorrect data as he praised a "bold" and "politically brilliant" universal coverage plan on the April 26 "Good Morning America."

"It's bold because it does propose to cover all Americans, including the 47 million now who are uninsured, within five years," said Johnson.

In his propagand-umentary "SiCKO" that favored the socialist health care systems of Canada, Britain, France and Cuba, Michael Moore made the fantastic claim that almost 50 million Americans are uninsured.

"SiCKO: There are nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance," quoted Moore's Web site.

However, the Census Bureau report "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005," puts the initial number of uninsured people living in the country at 46.577 million.

A closer look at that report reveals the Census data include 9.487 million people who are "not a citizen." Subtracting the 10 million non-Americans, the number of uninsured Americans falls to roughly 37 million.

Moore should have paid attention to that fact, since he agrees that being "an American" matters to get health insurance. "That's the only preexisting condition that should exist. I am an American. That's it," said Moore in footage aired by ABC's "Nightline" on June 13.

That isn't the only problem with the numbers currently being used.

Moore's Trouble with the Facts

In his film and television appearances, Moore left out quite a bit of information about the uninsured.

On his Web site, Moore claimed the Census Bureau had "underreported" the number of people without health insurance.

But Cheryl Hill Lee, a co-author of the Census Bureau study Moore was citing, told the Business & Media Institute that the data showed the exact opposite of what Moore said.

The Census "underreported" the number of people covered by health insurance

meaning that more people have insurance than the report suggests. The Census also underreported the number of people covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

"They Can't Afford Insurance …"

Many of the same people pushing the incorrect numbers of uninsured Americans also claim that these people cannot "afford" insurance. "And when you've got 47 million people in this country with no health insurance, they don't go to the doctor because they can't afford it," Moore said on CNN's "Larry King Live" July 10.

Katie Couric echoed those sentiment on the CBS "Evening News" May 23.

"The number of Americans with no health insurance is continuing to grow as more and more employers say they can't afford to offer group insurance … People who try to buy insurance on their own often find the price beyond their reach," said Couric as she introduced a two-part "investigation of the health insurance industry."

But according to the same Census report, there are 8.3 million uninsured people who make between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and 8.74 million who make more than $75,000 a year. That's roughly 17 million people who ought to be able to "afford" health insurance because they make substantially more than the median household income of $46,326.

On the July 13 "Larry King Live," Gupta did make that point, providing more context than Moore and most journalists about the affordability of health insurance.

Subtracting non-citizens and those who can afford their own insurance but choose not to purchase it, about 20 million people are left

less than 7 percent of the population.

"Many Americans are uninsured by choice," wrote Dr. David Gratzer in his book "The Cure: How Capitalism Can Save American Health Care." Gratzer cited a study of the "nonpoor uninsured" from the California Healthcare Foundation.

"Why the lack of insurance [among people who own homes and computers]? One clue is that 60 percent reported being in excellent health or very good health," explained Gratzer.

A Lie that Promotes Big Government

Moore, Clinton and Obama have used the lie about 40-some million uninsured Americans to promote universal health insurance plans. Moore asserted in his film that providing health insurance to everyone is a moral and even religious obligation.

The mainstream media have played along, championing "ambitious" universal coverage plans and referring to the U.S. system as "deeply flawed." "California's ambitious plan to make health insurance available to almost everyone in the state is getting a lot of attention all over the country, and here's why. According to the latest figures, the number of uninsured Americans has grown to more than 46 million," said Katie Couric on the "CBS Evening News" January 9.

Journalists' failure to question that high figure has furthered the cause of nationalized care.

"Proponents of universal health care often use the 46-million figure -- without context or qualification. It creates the false impression that a huge percentage of the population has fallen through the cracks," Gratzer told BMI. "Again, that's not to suggest that there is no problem, but it's very different than the universal-care crowd describes."

Dr. Grace-Marie Turner, a BMI adviser and president of the Galen Institute, agreed that "the number [on uninsured] is inflated and affects the debate."

Turner also pointed out that "45 percent of the uninsured are going to have insurance within four months [according to the Congressional Budget Office]," because many are transitioning between jobs and most people get health insurance through their employers.

So what is the true extent of the uninsured "crisis?" The Kaiser Family Foundation, a liberal non-profit frequently quoted by the media, puts the number of uninsured Americans who do not qualify for current government programs and make less than $50,000 a year between 13.9 million and 8.2 million. That is a much smaller figure than the media report.

Kaiser's 8.2 million figure for the chronically uninsured only includes those uninsured for two years or more. It is also worth noting, that, 45 percent of uninsured people will be uninsured for less than four months according to the Congressional Budget Office.



On 1/9/08, Stefanie Levi < stefalala@...> wrote:

Note: forwarded message attached.

__________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joan Malerich < joanmdm@...>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:54:36 -0600
Subject: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/portada.htm


United States Ranks Last in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease

London, January 9 (RHC)-- A new medical study shows that the U.S. ranks
last among industrialized nations in avoiding deaths by preventable
disease. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine found a preventable-disease death rate of 110 for every
100,000 Americans.

According to the new study, the deaths include deaths from infections,
treatable cancers, diabetes, and heart and vascular disease. The
study's authors say it is difficult to ignore the likely connection to
the rising number of medically uninsured Americans.

A recently-released U.S. government report shows that nearly 20 percent
of Americans, or more than 40 million adults, can't afford or (to) access
needed health care. The 2007 report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one-fifth of the population in
the U.S. couldn't afford one or more of these services: medical care,
prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses.

Among other barriers are areas without enough doctors, lack of
transportation to doctors and clinics, and shortages of such organs as
kidneys for transplants.




#2036 From: Joel Albers <joel@...>
Date: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:45 pm
Subject: Arise/UHCAN-MN Sicko Film Showing
joelmalbers
Send Email Send Email
 
Dear Health Care Activists,

As  mentioned at  last week's  UHCAN-MN meeting, Arise Bookstore contacted us recently about how our organizations can network. Jude Ortiz, from Arise, and myself came up with
showing the Sicko film at Arise Bookstore on Sunday Feb. 10th, preceded by health screenings and followed by discussion for actions. (If Feb 10th doesnt work for you, dont worry, there will be other showings, screenings). If you would like to receive a preventive health screening, see below). We also need volunteers again to carry out the health screenings; pls contact me if you can volunteer (those who volunteered previously did an excellent job, and are listed on the flyer below).  So here's the basic outline. Please get the word out. 

Feb 10th Sicko Documentary, Health Screenings, F/U Discussion at Arise Bookstore
Co-sponsored by Arise Bookstore, 2441 Lyndale Ave. S. Mpls, 612-871-7110. and Universal Health Care Action Network - MN (612-384-0973).
 
4PM Health Screenings (see description below*,pls pre-register, call 612-384-0973)

5PM Sicko Film

7PM Discussion, Networking, Actions


 *Low-cost,Community Mobile Health Screenings

cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, pulse

Universal Health Care Action Network - MN

 Services provided: Many people who are uninsured, underinsured, and even  insured with high out-of-pocket costs, do not receive basic preventive health screenings, which are important for early detection, health promotion and disease prevention. We do testing along with basic counseling (individual and group) on what the numbers mean and goals, with written information and suggested referral to a medical clinic, if necessary. We serve organizations,congregations, health fairs, employers, and individuals.

 Cost:

1.Total cholesterol + glucose + blood pressure & pulse tests  are $12 per person (does NOT require fasting), involves a simple finger stick, results using the Cholestech instrument in 5 minutes. Licensed health practitioners volunteer their work, thus, very low cost (a total cholesterol alone at most clinics would cost at least $40). The Cholestech measuring instrument we use is accurate and used by many medical clinics and hospitals.

 2.Total cholesterol +  HDL-cholesterol + glucose + blood pressure & pulse tests are $16. (also NON-fasting and completed in 5 minutes).

 3. Entire lipid panel (Total chol + LDL-chol + HDL-chol + triglycerides + glucose) + blood pressure & pulse is $25. The lipid panel must be carried out after fasting for 12 hours.

 4.Liver function tests measuring AST and ALT liver enymes is $15, at baseline and to monitor therapy of potentially liver-toxic medications.

 Offered by: Universal Health Care Action Network - MN (UHCAN-MN)

FFI: call 612-384-0973, joel@..., our volunteers: Joel Albers, Pharm.D., Mike Cavlan R.N., Ann Ness R.N, Dori Ulman, Jennifer Umolac, Diane O’Donnell

 Please call to set up a time and we will come out to you.

 

 





 

#2037 From: Stefanie Levi <stefalala@...>
Date: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:36 pm
Subject: Thank You, Everyone for Working to Get Govnmnt-Funded, Universal Single Payer Health Care At the Federal Level
stefalala
Send Email Send Email
 
Hey, UHCAN Family!

It's heartening to hear/see dialogue again on our
listserve.  "Silence" can be seductive and scary, when
it comes to dire economic realities and overabundances
of emails for the politically-minded/active.

Welcome back to our e-life, in particular, to John
Schwartz, who I thought had fallen away from the
listserve months ago!  Great response/analysis to that
"care to comment?" piece.  I've printed it out already
and used pieces of what you wrote to counter
stupidity.  I don't know how you are able to do that
kind of analysis, make it more-or-less understandable
to the less policy/economics-read among
us--(especially, moi!)--and still maintain your
sanity.

Thank you everyone who're doing everything else that
needs to be done to get the word out and build
community around this issue.

I'm putting the word out that I would like to be
attending more meetings and actions than not
attending, but time money and maily transprtation
issues are in my way.  So, if anyone wants to call me
if they're going to UHCAN-related meetings/actions,
and other health care-related stuff, and offer
transportation, I'd be much-obliged.  Depending on my
schedule, I'll try to attend.  And, if I can't make
it, I'll be there in spirit.

Peace and Health Care for All, NOW!!

Your Rabble-Rousing Sister, World Citizen and
Geographic Existence U. S.-ian,

Stefanie Levi    612-822-2974


      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

#2038 From: "carlos Vinicio Correa Jaramillo" <heidi_jaramillo@...>
Date: Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:18 pm
Subject: carlos Vinicio's Calendar
heidi_jaramillo@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Hello

Click on the link below and please enter your birthday for me.  It will take
less than one minute.

http://www.birthdayalarm.com/bd2/15069544a727540104b1422918220c254541545d904

Thank You,
carlos Vinicio

#2039 From: Joel Albers <joel@...>
Date: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:38 pm
Subject: Participants needed for MLK Day
joelmalbers
Send Email Send Email
 
Hi All,

Here's what's happening on MLK Day just 1 week away, and how we decided to get involved at our last meeting (see the notes of mtg that i posted last week).

7:00 - 9:30 AM free breakfasts at 4 St Paul African American Churches
9:30 - 10:30 AM Youth Rally, St Paul Central High School (Marshall & Lexington Ave)
10:35 - 10:55AM March (down Marshall Street, St Paul) to Concordia Univ.
11:00 - 1:00PM Main Program, Gangelhoff Center, Concordai Univ.

I put together a health care disparities flyer below to distribute. (Feel free to make your own).
If you want to distribute the flyer (which St Paul Area Council of Churches agreed to photocopy for us, Lucy is our contact) at 1 of the free breakfasts, RSVP at  www.spacc.org click MLK Breakfast or call 651-789-3877. Janet (and friends) will be at  House of Hope Church, and i will be at 1st Baptist, so pick preferably, from the 2 remaining Churches if you like.

I will bring some signs for the March, and meet at Central HS just prior to the March, after the program. I will hold up a sign or two so you can see me. Please let me know if you can be there for that.

Feel free to contact me for more info, Qs etc.

joel








Joel Albers Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Clinical Pharmacist, Health Economics Researcher

Universal Health Care Action Network - MN

Community/University Collaborative Research

www.uhcan-mn.org

email: joel@...

phone: 612-384-0973

address: 1520 10th ave South #2

           Mpls, MN, 55404




#2040 From: "Jim Hart" <hartx013@...>
Date: Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:34 pm
Subject: RE: Participants needed for MLK Day
hartx013@...
Send Email Send Email
 

Joel –

 

MUHCC is planning to march with our banner again too.

 

Jim Hart

 


From: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com [mailto:uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Joel Albers
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 3:38 PM
To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [uhcan-mn] Participants needed for MLK Day

 

Hi All,

 

Here's what's happening on MLK Day just 1 week away, and how we decided to get involved at our last meeting (see the notes of mtg that i posted last week).

 

7:00 - 9:30 AM free breakfasts at 4 St Paul African American Churches

9:30 - 10:30 AM Youth Rally, St Paul Central High School (Marshall & Lexington Ave)

10:35 - 10:55AM March (down Marshall Street, St Paul) to Concordia Univ.

11:00 - 1:00PM Main Program, Gangelhoff Center, Concordai Univ.

 

I put together a health care disparities flyer below to distribute. (Feel free to make your own).

If you want to distribute the flyer (which St Paul Area Council of Churches agreed to photocopy for us, Lucy is our contact) at 1 of the free breakfasts, RSVP at www.spacc.orgclick MLK Breakfast or call 651-789-3877.Janet (and friends) will be at House of Hope Church, and i will be at 1st Baptist, so pick preferably, from the 2 remaining Churches if you like.

 

I will bring some signs for the March, and meet at Central HS just prior to the March, after the program. I will hold up a sign or two so you can see me. Please let me know if you can be there for that.

 

Feel free to contact me for more info, Qs etc.

 

joel

 

 

 

 

 

 


#2041 From: "Eric Angell" <eric-angell@...>
Date: Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:55 pm
Subject: Jan 26 (de Enero): "Resisting the RNC: Minnesota Town Hall Organizing Meeting" (Venga a Minnesota Resiste a la RNC: Una Reunión Comunitaria)
eangellii
Send Email Send Email
 
please forward widely!
(en espanol: abajo)


The Republican National Convention (RNC) is coming to our backyard in
Sept. Feeling angry?  Want to do something?

Come to

Resisting the RNC: Minnesota Town Hall Organizing Meeting

Saturday, January 26th, 2pm
Walker Community United Methodist Church
3104 16th Ave S
Minneapolis

Please join us for a gathering of those who have already started
organizing to resist the RNC in 2008 and those looking for a place to
start. This will be a space for people to come together, share ideas,
energy and
participate in the process.

- A discussion about the why the Republicans are coming, what it means for
our community, and why resistance is necessary.
- Followed by a listening session where those organizing for the RNC will
hear what you have to say about the upcoming protests.  Come and share
your concerns and views and have your voice be heard.
- Updates and presentations of the plans groups have for the convention.

After the program, please stay and mingle with each other, get to know
each other, and start to work together!
Childcare and snacks provided.

FYI: contact Kim: kimdefranco@... or Andy: 612-719-4292 to reserve
an information table, present your "already underway" plans, and/or
volunteer to help with the event.


Co-hosted by:
Protest RNC 2008 - protestrnc2008.org
The RNC Welcoming Committee - nornc.org

----------------------------------------------------------

La Convención Republicana Nacional (RNC) viene a nuestra casa en
septiembre.
¿Se siente enojado?   ¿Quisiera hacer algo?

Venga a Minnesota Resiste a la RNC: Una Reunión Comunitaria

Sábado, el 26 de Enero, a las 2pm
Iglesia Walker Community United Methodist
3104 16th Ave S
Minneapolis

Le invitamos a una reunión para los que ya están organizando en contra del
RNC de 2008 y los que busquen donde empezar.  La reunión será una
oportunidad para juntarnos, compartir ideas y energía, y participar en el
proceso:

- Una discusión sobre el ¿porque? de la venida Republicana, como nos va a
afectar en nuestra comunidad, y porque sea necesario la resistencia. -
Seguida por una "sesión de escucha" cuando organizadores
anti-convencionistas escucharán lo que Ud. tiene que decir sobre las
manifestaciones próximas.  Venga y comparte sus opiniones y preocupaciones
su voz será escuchada.
- Noticias y presentaciones sobre los planes que varios grupos tienen para
la convención.

¡Y después del programa, le invitamos a quedar a conocer a nuevas
personas, mezclarse con los demás, y empezar a cooperar y trabajar juntos!

Habrá traducción, comida y cuidado de niños.

Para más información: contacte a Kim: kimdefranco@... o a Andy:
612-719-4292 para reservar una mesa para información y literatura,
presentar
los planes que ya tiene, y/o ofrecer ayudar con el evento.


Presentado por:
el "RNC Welcoming Committee" - nornc.org
"Protest RNC 2008" - protestrnc2008.org

#2042 From: Joel Albers <joel@...>
Date: Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:02 pm
Subject: House Party: Media Impact Training
joelmalbers
Send Email Send Email
 
The House Party Media Impact Training this Thursday, Jan 17, will be at the home of Joel Albers (see directions below) at 6:45 PM sharp. Please attend. This message can be forwarded  widely. Refreshments provided.

                  SCHEDULE

6:45 – 7:10       Arrival & Introductions

7:10 – 7:35       Watch the Media Training Video

7:35 – 7:50       Webcast Set-up/ Video Discussion/ Submit Questions

7:50 – 8:15       Listen to Live Webcast with a National Media Expert  

8:15 – 8:55       Participate in Practice Skills Sessions

8:55 – 9:00       Wrap-up and Meet Attendees

The goal of the Media Impact Training is to help progressive activists develop a solid grounding in the skills necessary to gain media coverage for their political events.  Skills to be covered include assessing your resources; coming up with a plan for your event; localizing and personalizing a broader political effort; pitching your event; and following up to expand coverage. 

This training is sponsored by Universal Health Care Action Network - MN and Center for Progressive Leadership Action Network. The media training video is general, yet the practical focus will be on health care reform and skills can be applied to any progressive issue. The program is the chance for progressives to meet new people and develop new connections, so we encourage you to take the time to get to know your fellow participants.
 
The training will not be about broader topics, such as how to develop a media strategy or how to create a compelling message (however, additional information on media strategy, as well as additional resources, are available online at www.cplaction.org.)
 
When the training is over, please visit our website, www.cplaction.org, where you will have access to additional resources that we hope will prove useful as you take the skills you learn at our training and apply them in your own community.  

Directions to 1520 10th Av. S., Minneapolis.
 
My house is in the Elliot Park neighborhood, tucked within the shadow of downtown Minneapolis, north of I-94 and one block south of Elliot Park.  It is across the street from Augustana Nursing Home and Residence.
 
From north:  Take 35W south; exit at 11th Av., go straight, crossing 11th Av.- you are on 17th St.; take the first right on to 10th Av.; 1520 is a few houses down on the left. (White three-story building)
 
From south:
Highway:  Take 35W north to downtown exits; exit at Grant St; veer to the right onto Grant St., which turns into 14th St.; turn right on 10th Av.; 1520 is a block and half on the right. (White three-story building)
 
0r take Highway 55 north to 7th St. exit. Turn left at 11th Av. -go a couple blocks and turn right on 14th St. (Dunn Bros. on your left); after one block, turn left on 10th Av.; 1520 is a block and half down on the right. (White three-story building)
 
City Streets:  Take Chicago Av. North (you will go over the I 94 overpass); turn right on 15th St.; go two blocks and turn right on 10th Av.; 1520 is a few houses down on the right. (White three story building)
 
From St. Paul:  Take 94 west; exit at 5th St (get in the left lane of the exit ramp); at the stop light, you veer left onto 11th Av; after 3 stop lights, turn right on 14th St. (Dunn Bros. on your left); after one block, turn left on 10th Av.; 1520 is a block and half down on the right. (White three-story building)
 
From west:  Take 394 east; exit at 12th St. (far right lane); follow 12th St. through downtown, past Nicollet Mall etc.; after the stop light at 3rd Av. by the big church on the right, you will veer right, following the sign that says “local streets” (if you miss this, you may end up on 35W south); the road curves around to a stop sign; turn left at the stop sign onto 15th St.; after a few blocks, turn right at 10th Av.; 1520 is a few houses down on the right. (White three-story building)
 
Parking:  There is a 2 hour parking limit on 10th Av. Between 11 am and 11pm, but it is seldom enforced in the evening.  You can park down the block on 17th St. – no time restrictions on south side of 17th.

#2043 From: Elizabeth Dickinson <eadickinson@...>
Date: Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:24 am
Subject: Lunch with General Mills V.P. of Health Thursday 1/17
eadickinson@...
Send Email Send Email
 
#2044 From: greenpartymike <ollamhfaery@...>
Date: Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:41 am
Subject: Re: Lunch with General Mills V.P. of Health Thursday 1/17
ollamhfaery@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Sorry but I have absolutely no interest in attending this.

I'd much rather work on getting the corporate corrupted HMO's and their friends
like the VP of General Mills out of our healthcare system by working for Single
Payer Heathcare.

Which is, of course part of the Green Party platform.

Michael Cavlan RN

-----Original Message-----
>From: Elizabeth Dickinson <eadickinson@...>
>Sent: Jan 15, 2008 10:24 PM
>To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [uhcan-mn] Lunch with General Mills V.P. of Health Thursday 1/17
>
>
>>  Want to enjoy a healthier New Year?
>>
>> Interested in holding down health care costs in a new and creative
>> way?
>>
>> Come hear General Mills V.P. Dr. Timothy Crimmins speak about the
>> unique ways General Mills promotes their employees' health and
>> lowers their health care costs!
>>
>> When: 11:30 am-1 pm Thursday, January 17, 2008
>>
>> Where: Mermaid Event Center, 2200 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112
>>
>> "It's no longer optional; employers must have a role in improving
>> the wellness of their employees.  The health of America is too
>> important to leave to us doctors!" Dr. Crimmins, V.P. General Mills
>>
>> Choice of lunch: Ham and cheddar on wheat or vegetarian option.
>>
>> Please rsvp by calling the Twin Cities North Chamber at 763-571-9781.
>>
>> Proudly presented by Anoka County Smoke-Free Partnership, Smoke-
>> Free Ramsey, Twin Cities North Chamber, North Metro Chamber, and
>> Anoka Area Chamber.
>> Anoka County Smoke-Free Partnership | 277 Coon Rapids Blvd. | Suite
>> 115 | Coon Rapids | MN |
>>
>

#2045 From: Heidi Jaramillo <heidi_jaramillo@...>
Date: Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:55 am
Subject: RE: Arise/UHCAN-MN Sicko Film Showing
heidi_jaramillo@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Congratulations Joel, you are doing excellent work. Haydee
________________________________
> To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
> From: joel@...
> Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:45:30 -0600
> Subject: [uhcan-mn] Arise/UHCAN-MN Sicko Film Showing
>
>
> Dear Health Care Activists,
>
> As  mentioned at  last week's  UHCAN-MN meeting, Arise Bookstore contacted us
recently about how our organizations can network. Jude Ortiz, from Arise, and
myself came up with
> showing the Sicko film at Arise Bookstore on Sunday Feb. 10th, preceded by
health screenings and followed by discussion for actions. (If Feb 10th doesnt
work for you, dont worry, there will be other showings, screenings). If you
would like to receive a preventive health screening, see below). We also need
volunteers again to carry out the health screenings; pls contact me if you can
volunteer (those who volunteered previously did an excellent job, and are listed
on the flyer below).  So here's the basic outline. Please get the word out.
>
> Feb 10th Sicko Documentary, Health Screenings, F/U Discussion at Arise
Bookstore
> Co-sponsored by Arise Bookstore, 2441 Lyndale Ave. S. Mpls, 612-871-7110. and
Universal Health Care Action Network - MN (612-384-0973).
>
> 4PM Health Screenings (see description below*,pls pre-register, call
612-384-0973)
>
> 5PM Sicko Film
>
> 7PM Discussion, Networking, Actions
>
>
>
>  *Low-cost,Community Mobile Health Screenings
>
> cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, pulse
>
> Universal Health Care Action Network - MN
>
>  Services provided: Many people who are uninsured, underinsured, and even 
insured with high out-of-pocket costs, do not receive basic preventive health
screenings, which are important for early detection, health promotion and
disease prevention. We do testing along with basic counseling (individual and
group) on what the numbers mean and goals, with written information and
suggested referral to a medical clinic, if necessary. We serve
organizations,congregations, health fairs, employers, and individuals.
>
>  Cost:
>
> 1.Total cholesterol + glucose + blood pressure & pulse tests  are $12 per
person (does NOT require fasting), involves a simple finger stick, results using
the Cholestech instrument in 5 minutes. Licensed health practitioners volunteer
their work, thus, very low cost (a total cholesterol alone at most clinics would
cost at least $40). The Cholestech measuring instrument we use is accurate and
used by many medical clinics and hospitals.
>
>  2.Total cholesterol +  HDL-cholesterol + glucose + blood pressure & pulse
tests are $16. (also NON-fasting and completed in 5 minutes).
>
>  3. Entire lipid panel (Total chol + LDL-chol + HDL-chol + triglycerides +
glucose) + blood pressure & pulse is $25. The lipid panel must be carried out
after fasting for 12 hours.
>
>  4.Liver function tests measuring AST and ALT liver enymes is $15, at baseline
and to monitor therapy of potentially liver-toxic medications.
>
>  Offered by: Universal Health Care Action Network - MN (UHCAN-MN)
>
> FFI: call 612-384-0973, joel@...
_________________________________________________________________
Make distant family not so distant with Windows Vista® + Windows Live™.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/digitallife/keepintouch.mspx?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_CPC\
_VideoChat_distantfamily_012008

#2046 From: dorijj@...
Date: Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:54 am
Subject: Re: Lunch with General Mills V.P. of Health Thursday 1/17
dorijj@...
Send Email Send Email
 
In a message dated 1/15/2008 10:41:33 PM Central Standard Time, ollamhfaery@... writes:

Sorry but I have absolutely no interest in attending this.

I'd much rather work on getting the corporate corrupted HMO's and their friends like the VP of General Mills out of our healthcare system by working for Single Payer Heathcare.

Which is, of course part of the Green Party platform.

Michael Cavlan RN

-----Original Message-----
>From: Elizabeth Dickinson <eadickinson@mindspring.com>
>Sent: Jan 15, 2008 10:24 PM
>To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [uhcan-mn] Lunch with General Mills V.P. of Health Thursday 1/17
>
>
>> Want to enjoy a healthier New Year?
>>
>> Interested in holding down health care costs in a new and creative
>> way?
>>
>> Come hear General Mills V.P. Dr. Timothy Crimmins speak about the
>> unique ways General Mills promotes their employees' health and
>> lowers their health care costs!
>>
>> When: 11:30 am-1 pm Thursday, January 17, 2008
>>
>> Where: Mermaid Event Center, 2200 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112
>>
>> "It's no longer optional; employers must have a role in improving
>> the wellness of their employees. The health of America is too
>> important to leave to us doctors!" Dr. Crimmins, V.P. General Mills
>>
>> Choice of lunch: Ham and cheddar on wheat or vegetarian option.
>>
>> Please rsvp by calling the Twin Cities North Chamber at 763-571-9781.
>>
>> Proudly presented by Anoka County Smoke-Free Partnership, Smoke-
>> Free Ramsey, Twin Cities North Chamber, North Metro Chamber, and
>> Anoka Area Chamber.
>> Anoka County Smoke-Free Partnership | 277 Coon Rapids Blvd. | Suite
>> 115 | Coon Rapids | MN |
>>
>

Good answer, Michael.  I'm going to be sending her a sympathy message. I just found out that her mother died just before Christmas and I know how close they were.  See you Friday evening.
 
--Dori




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

#2047 From: "Amy M. Johnston" <amjohnston1001@...>
Date: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:24 pm
Subject: [Fwd: Survey: Share Your Health Care Story]
amymjohnston
Send Email Send Email
 
FYI...

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Survey: Share Your Health Care Story
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:08:06 GMT
From: Working America <workingamerica@...>
Reply-To: notice-reply-id85n5i4viitwbb@...
To: Amy Johnston <AMJOHNSTON1001@...>


Survey: Share Your Health Care Story

Dear Amy,



Make your voice heard on health care.

Take the 2008 Health Care for America Survey today.


Click here.

Poll after poll show that working families view health care as one of the most important issues facing our country today.

But we know these polls only tell part of the story. We want to know more—more about how the health care system affects you and your family.

Do you and your family have health care coverage? Does your health insurance cover all the care you need at a price you can afford? Has an insurance company initially refused to cover a medical treatment for you or a family member that should have been covered?

And what do you think overall about today’s health care system? How important will health care be to you as a voting issue this year?

Our 2008 Health Care for America Survey gives you the chance to make your voice heard and ensures that leaders and candidates at every level understand what working families are experiencing.

All individual survey responses are kept completely confidential.

Click here to take the 2008 Health Care for America Survey.

Be sure to share your health care story and send the survey to friends and family.

The compiled survey results will be given to the presidential candidates, every U.S. senator and representative, every candidate for Congress and state and local officials in every state in our country.

Take the survey and tell us your story. In addition, read health care stories from other working people and get the “hot facts” on health care.

In this great country, no one should go without health care. The 2008 elections will give us the chance to show that Americans are ready for real change. 

Working families can be a big force behind winning secure, high-quality health care for all by 2009 if we make the 2008 elections a mandate for health care reform. 

Take the 2008 Health Care for America Survey today:

http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/survey/

Sincerely,

Working America, AFL-CIO

P.S. We want to hear from as many voices as we can, as we fight for secure, high-quality health care. Get your friends, family and anyone else you know to take part in the 2008 Health Care for America Survey today.


Please click the link below to tell your friends, family and co-workers to take the 2008 Health Care for America Survey today.
 Tell-a-friend!

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Working America.

This message was sent to AMJOHNSTON1001@.... Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile.

Please remove me from Working America's email list.

 

National Office 815 16th St., N.W. • Washington, DC 20006 • 202-637-5137 • info@...
Copyright © 2007 WORKING AMERICA

 

--
Amy M

Amy M. Johnston, MA

Project Consultant

407 4th St SE, # 3

Minneapolis, MN 55414

 

612-379-3411 (Office Phone)

507-380-9062 (Mobile)

 

amjohnston1001@...



#2048 From: guy frechette <guyfrechette@...>
Date: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:50 pm
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Survey: Share Your Health Care Story]
guyfrechette@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Hello from Guy:AKA, the Troll:

Joe-- freemarket does not exist becasue of government
mandates that prrevent insurance comanies from
competing.
John S-- i stand corrected there are 60 some mandates
in minnesota, but we still have 4 times as many as
other states.
Joe-- what is wrong with "children learn to be
disclipine and grow up to have personal
responsibility"?
John S--when i pay for the dentist with my health
savings account it is not out of pocket, it is pretax
so it cost approximately 30% less. technically it is
out of an IRA as if i manage to not spend it, it
becomes an IRA when i retire.
John S-- Medicare maybe, as the people who contributed
eventually benifit and distribution is relatively
equal. MnCare and MCHA, no way. funds are colledted
unequally, and unequally distributed. can you have a
serious discussion about any of these programs without
talking about rationing? Have these social programs
made the social problem better or worse? let me guess,
each year the need is worse and we need more money to
fix the problem.



      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

#2049 From: "Blanche Hall" <blanche.hall@...>
Date: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:39 pm
Subject: Re: Lunch with General Mills V.P. of Health Thursday 1/17
blanche.hall
Send Email Send Email
 
Since the issue has arisen, there is an interesting website http://www.wbgh.org/ for the National Business Group on Health.  Part of what they are busy working on is market-based legislation for health care for our country.  If you go to the website, you can find out who all the major corporate players are and they list dates and locations of their gatherings, etc., should anyone want to go and hold up a Single Payer sign or something.  Could be fun fun to hold up a sign asking McDonalds how much we will have to pay when we get sick from eating their hamburgers, or their cloned meat hamburgers, etc., etc.   The group is heavy with food, pharma and health insurance industry reps.  Seems like these three stand to make a lot of money going forward if they get their way.  Anyway, may help those who are confused about who is supporting Single Payer and who is supporting market based.  Elizabeth seems to not know the difference, so thought maybe others were confused also.
 
Blanche 

 
On 1/15/08, greenpartymike <ollamhfaery@...> wrote:

Sorry but I have absolutely no interest in attending this.

I'd much rather work on getting the corporate corrupted HMO's and their friends like the VP of General Mills out of our healthcare system by working for Single Payer Heathcare.

Which is, of course part of the Green Party platform.

Michael Cavlan RN

-----Original Message-----
>From: Elizabeth Dickinson < eadickinson@...>
>Sent: Jan 15, 2008 10:24 PM
>To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [uhcan-mn] Lunch with General Mills V.P. of Health Thursday 1/17
>
>
>> Want to enjoy a healthier New Year?
>>
>> Interested in holding down health care costs in a new and creative
>> way?
>>
>> Come hear General Mills V.P. Dr. Timothy Crimmins speak about the
>> unique ways General Mills promotes their employees' health and
>> lowers their health care costs!
>>
>> When: 11:30 am-1 pm Thursday, January 17, 2008
>>
>> Where: Mermaid Event Center, 2200 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112
>>
>> "It's no longer optional; employers must have a role in improving
>> the wellness of their employees. The health of America is too
>> important to leave to us doctors!" Dr. Crimmins, V.P. General Mills
>>
>> Choice of lunch: Ham and cheddar on wheat or vegetarian option.
>>
>> Please rsvp by calling the Twin Cities North Chamber at 763-571-9781.
>>
>> Proudly presented by Anoka County Smoke-Free Partnership, Smoke-
>> Free Ramsey, Twin Cities North Chamber, North Metro Chamber, and
>> Anoka Area Chamber.
>> Anoka County Smoke-Free Partnership | 277 Coon Rapids Blvd. | Suite
>> 115 | Coon Rapids | MN |
>>
>



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