FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2009

CONTACT:
Corliss Hill
UnitedHealthcare
770-613-4792
corliss.hill@...

Ann Wills
Keating Magee
504-299-7168 or 504-494-3810 (cell)
awills@...

UNITEDHEALTHCARE® PARTNERS WITH ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL TO SPONSOR FIRST-EVER “ESSENCE HEALTH PAVILION” JULY 3-5 IN NEW ORLEANS

Complimentary health screenings, LIVE fitness demos by Donna Richardson-Joyner, gifts and prizes to be offered to local community and Festival attendees

New Orleans, LA (BlackNews.com) -- As part of its ongoing commitment to help improve the health status of African Americans, UnitedHealthcare has teamed up with the world-renowned Essence Music Festival to co-sponsor the first-ever Essence Health Pavilion taking place July 3 - 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Nearly 160,000 attendees from across the country are expected for the 15th anniversary of the three-day Essence Music Festival event. The 2009 Essence Health Pavilion is co-sponsored by AARP and Susan G. Komen for the Cure's® Circle of Promise.

In conjunction with the Essence Empowerment Seminars, which serve as the daytime destination for festival attendees, delivering compelling and inspirational messages by some of the nation's most renowned leaders, celebrities and music artists, the Essence Health Pavilion is offering the Greater New Orleans community and Festival attendees an array of wellness activities. UnitedHealthcare's Generations of Wellness and Medicare Solutions initiatives will provide festivalgoers complimentary health screenings (blood pressure and cholesterol) from 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon each day; information about affordable healthcare & wellness options for both business owners and seniors; and a chance for small business owners to win prizes at the top of every hour (from 12 noon – 5 p.m.) in the “Whirlwind of Prizes” game. Additionally, attendees will be treated to two very special fitness demonstrations by Donna Richardson-Joyner, creator of “Sweating in the Spirit,” the #1 Inspirational Fitness Workout Video in the nation, and wife of the #1 Syndicated Radio Talk Show host, Tom Joyner. The LIVE fitness demonstrations take place on the Expo Experience Stage and are co-sponsored by UnitedHealthcare and AARP. They are:

“Get Fit Through Dance”
Friday, July 3 at 10 a.m.

“Practical Fitness Tips for Everyday Healthy Living!“
Saturday, July 4 at 10 a.m.

The Essence Empowerment Seminars and all activities in the Essence Health Pavilion take place at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center located at 900 Convention Center Blvd., Hall C, and are free of charge and open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

“UnitedHealthcare, along with AARP and Susan G. Komen for the Cure's® Circle of Promise, is pleased to partner with Essence on such an important initiative as improving the health outcomes and economic forecast for African Americans,” says Corliss Hill, national multicultural marketing director for UnitedHealthcare. “We are excited to host the Essence Health Pavilion as part of this year's 15th anniversary event.”

Generations of Wellness targets effective health care communication in the belief that it will drive earlier identification, treatment and outcomes for heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and asthma, the top five diseases that disproportionately impact African Americans.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare (www.unitedhealthcare.com) provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies. The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of more than 26 million individual consumers, contracting directly with approximately 590,000 physicians and care professionals and more than 4,900 hospitals to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

About Generations of Wellness
Generations of Wellness is focused on providing African Americans with access to quality, affordable health care services through small and mid-size employers, through collaborative efforts that address the health and well-being of African Americans, and by working with business and faith-based organizations to share educational information. To learn more about Generations of Wellness, please visit www.uhcgenerations.com.

About Ovations
Ovations is one of six business units that constitute UnitedHealth Group, a Fortune 50 company helping individuals, families and communities improve their health and well-being at all stages of life. Ovations is dedicated to serving the growing health needs of individuals over age 50.

-END-

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Hi Everyone,

I think all of us who tabled at the UHCAN-MN booth at the Pride LGBT
Festival
thought it went  successfully. I especially want to thank several
volunteers
who really did amazing ed/outreach and held the booth down against
ferocious winds. They are: Carol Halonen, Carol Perko, Harry
Greenberg, Beth shapiro, Dori Ullman, Wendy Thoren, Danene
Provenchar, joel albers. 60 people signed up for the list serve or
phone tree, and 100s got informational flyers. $30
in donations.

Nearly all MN major HMO insurers, and some national also tabled at
Pride: Blue Cross, UCare,  Medica, Cigna. They gave out everything
from tote bags to pens, key chains, the works. Of course they were
there to market themselves and attract enrollees. The fact is though,
their marketing practices amount to organized deception. Unlike us, i
would bet their tablers were paid staff (maybe even overtime), and
the promotional freebees weren't exactly free. On the contrary, we
are paying for it all through our premiums. And marketing is the
second highest administrative cost, only to billing. So what could be
going to health care service, goes to marketing.

Their PR is designed to make the public believe HMO insurers are an
intrinsic part of the health care system, and your best pal. What HMO
insurers do in practice has actually been harmful to people denied
coverage due to HIV or AIDS. But for the GLBT  community and hosts of
the festival, the insurers have not been their best friend. I would
assume that there's all kinds of discrimination of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgendered people applying for or experiencing their
policies. Before it had to be outlawed in MN, women were
discriminated against in health insurance policies and probably still
are. Age is still a discriminatory factor in premium rates. It would
be interesting to study this further, to what degree the GLBT
community is restricted or denied coverage, or costs more. so much
for "Our Rights, Your Rights, Human rights, and i would add, health
care rights.

thanks,
joel

Hi Everybody,

July 1:
Keith Ellison Forum on Solving the Health Care Crisis, wed, 6-8PM, at
UCare (coincidentally, i guess), 500 Stinson Blvd NE, Mpls, 55413.
It's a lot about organizing so if anyone from UHCAN-MN can get there
and represent UHCAN-MN that would be great. Let me know asap, and i
can give you any necessary background. I can get you our new flyer
listing various ways to get involved.

July 6th:
Cookout/UHCAN-MN mtg: Monday, 6:30PM, at Joel's house, 3500 35th Avs
S., Longfellow neighborhood, Mpls 55406. (directions:Take Lake street
to 35th ave and go south to 35th street. Or take Hiawatha (hwy55) to
35th street and go east to 35th ave.) I will supply a grill,
hamburger and hot dog buns, ice tea, utensils,plates. Bring potluck
food/ drink item, esp something to grill.

July 8th:
UHCAN-MN News Conference, wed, 10:30 am, Schneider Drug (on 3800
university ave SE across from KSTP and near I 280, mpls, 55414).  the
theme based on our discussions is: 1. the crucial need for a single-
payer health care system 2. OUR criteria for a "public Medicare
option" (one that will emerge into SP) and 3. the need for a state
single-payer option. Speakers so far include:Congressman Keith Ellison (his
staff) Mike Cavlan, Joel  Clemmer (MN Health Plan bill for SP), Tom Sengupta
(pharmacist, small
business owner), and Bernie Hess (UFCW labor union). Open to
endorsing organizations which gets your organization on the press
release etc, and entitles you to send a speaker to it.

---

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Below is McCollum's announcement of a Health Care Town Hall this Wednesday, July
1 in Highland Park in St. Paul.  My guess is that this event will draw a larger
crowd, and more media coverage, than the press conference at Schneider Drug.

June 17, 2009 - McCollum Invites Constituents To Health Care Town Hall on July 1

Washington, DC – As Congress prepares to reform America's health care system,
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) will host a town hall meeting on Wednesday,
July 1 from 6-7:30pm at the Highland Park Picnic Pavilion in St. Paul.  All
residents of the Fourth Congressional District are invited to participate and
share their views on reforms to offer the choice of affordable health care to
all Americans.

Event: Health Care Town Hall Meeting with Congresswoman Betty McCollum

Date: Wednesday, July 1, 6-7:30 pm CDT

Location: Highland Park Picnic Pavilion
1270 Montreal Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55116


Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-4) serves on the House Appropriations & Budget
Committees.

# # #

Hi Wendy,

i will try to make a lot of flyers (4 to a page) for distribution
during the Pride Parade which begins at 11am at 3rd and Hennepin.
125,000 turnout expected just for the parade. Feel free to join me to
do so. (others welcome to join us to distribute single-payer flyers,
let me know. Should we just say meet-up at Hennepin and 4th, NE corner ?

The UHCAN-MN booth is all set up at Loring Park (with the other 412
booths around the park). Our booth is located on the south side of
(but not in) the tennis court (good landmark). Kindof across the
street from where the old Loring Bar used to be.

Otherwise, so far Carol P, Ann, Carol H, Harry, Beth (i believe) and
myself will be tabling.

as it is said, happy Pride,

joel

----- Original Message -----

From: Joel Albers

To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:19 PM

Subject: [uhcan-mn] proposal to hold news conference

Hi Everyone,

the drive for health care reform is about as scorching as the 
weather. So to build on it, and follow-up on the great coverage we 
got post single-payer rally at the big HMO, in the Star Tribune 
(almost unheard of on the front page of the business section), i 
would like to suggest that we strike again while the fire's hot in 
the form of a news conference.

Tom Sengupta, from Schneider Drug Store has already indicated we 
could have it at his pharmacy (where i also practice). So if we do a 
news conference we have a venue. It is right across the street from 
kstp ch 5, so that can't hurt. If so, would Wed July 8th be ok ?

i put some feelers out for speakers, and we could use more. Let me know.

The framing, messaging, and talking points would be our bread and 
butter:
HC as a public good, single-payer medicare for all, a public option 
on OUR terms, and also, and this is important, a state single-payer 
option ( any state that opts for single-payer can do so). a state 
single-payer option may be a way of getting single-payer in the 
debate through the back door, window, or chimney. the state single- 
payer option was actually introduced early in 1993 as part of the 
national debate, but quickly scuttled.

So pls give me feedback as to whether folks are down with this , or 
not.

Also, if you can do any tabling at the Pride Festival for UHCAN-MN 
this weekend, let me know as soon as possible.

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@uhcan-mn.org

phone: 612-384-0973

address: 3500 35th ave S

           Mpls, MN, 55406

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MPR propaganda on the health care system is not good.  Yesterday, in a
solitation for comment, the "public" radio station asked listeners to share
their views of a "government run" health care system.  As any informed person
knows, the issue is not whether or not to have government run health care. The
issue is whether or not to have government funded health insurance for everyone,
including all those that already receive it through Medicare, Medicaid and the
VA.

Real public radio looks like this:
http://blip.tv/file/2244275

--- In uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com, "Amy M. Johnston" <amjohnston1001@...> wrote:
>
> Fill out this survey from MPR.  I don't have employer-based healthcare
> coverage, but I used to, so that's enough for me to answer the survey. :-)
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject:  Rate your health care coverage
> Date:  Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:31:20 -0700
> From:  Minnesota Public Radio <publicinsight@...>
> Reply-To:  publicinsight@...
>
>
>
> >
> > View web version
> >
<http://www.elabs7.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=av19,gyjz,kr,5560,a9d5,2h63,5qoe&MLM_MID=\
791279&MLM_MLID=747&MLM_SITEID=506781&MLM_UNIQUEID=1c36b4164e>
> > | Send this message to a friend
> >
<http://elabs7.com/content/506781/forward_mpr.html?sender=amyjohnston@...&uid=1c\
36b4164e&p=10593&mid=791279>
> >
> >
> > Public Insight Network
> > <http://www.elabs7.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=av19,gyjz,kr,lad9,2g08,2h63,5qoe>
> >
> > *What's happening with your health benefits?*
> >
> > U.S. health insurers say a public health insurance option
> > <http://www.elabs7.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=av19,gyjz,kr,ljac,gqv4,2h63,5qoe>
> > would "dismantle employer-based coverage." President Obama says a
> > government plan
> > <http://www.elabs7.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=av19,gyjz,kr,h7pt,jjei,2h63,5qoe>
> > could discipline health companies into being competitive.
> >
> > Help Minnesota Public Radio news move beyond the rhetoric and report
> > on what you�re seeing.
> >
> > What has your health coverage changed? How have you coped with rising
> > premiums? * Give us your insights by answering a few questions.
> > <http://www.elabs7.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=av19,gyjz,kr,kly3,e5vf,2h63,5qoe>*
> >
> > And please pass this note to others willing to share their experience
> > with employer-based health insurance.
> >
> >
> > All the best,
> >
> > Michael Caputo
> > Analyst, Public Insight Journalism
> > Minnesota Public Radio News
> > (651) 290-1081
> > mcaputo@...
> >
> > *What is the Public Insight Network?*
> > The Public Insight Network is you and thousands of others like you who
> > have agreed to share what they know to help public radio cover the
> > news, find stories, and add depth to our reporting.
> >
> > As part of the Public Insight Network, you have an open line into our
> > newsroom and programs. We'll send you about an e-mail a month asking
> > for your knowledge on issues and stories we are pursuing.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

View web version | Send this message to a friend

What's happening with your health benefits? U.S. health insurers say a public health insurance option would "dismantle employer-based coverage." President Obama says a government plan could discipline health companies into being competitive. Help Minnesota Public Radio news move beyond the rhetoric and report on what you�re seeing. What has your health coverage changed? How have you coped with rising premiums? Give us your insights by answering a few questions. And please pass this note to others willing to share their experience with employer-based health insurance. All the best, Michael Caputo Analyst, Public Insight Journalism Minnesota Public Radio News (651) 290-1081 mcaputo@... What is the Public Insight Network? The Public Insight Network is you and thousands of others like you who have agreed to share what they know to help public radio cover the news, find stories, and add depth to our reporting. As part of the Public Insight Network, you have an open line into our newsroom and programs. We'll send you about an e-mail a month asking for your knowledge on issues and stories we are pursuing.

----- Original Message -----

From: Amy M. Johnston

To: MN_SP ; uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:13 AM

Subject: [MN_SP] Re: Rate your health care coverage

Fill out this survey from MPR.  I don't have employer-based healthcare coverage, but I used to, so that's enough for me to answer the survey. :-)

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Rate your health care coverage
Date:	Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:31:20 -0700
From:	Minnesota Public Radio <publicinsight@mpr.org>
Reply-To:	publicinsight@mpr.org

View web version | Send this message to a friend

What's happening with your health benefits? U.S. health insurers say a public health insurance option would "dismantle employer-based coverage." President Obama says a government plan could discipline health companies into being competitive. Help Minnesota Public Radio news move beyond the rhetoric and report on what you�re seeing. What has your health coverage changed? How have you coped with rising premiums? Give us your insights by answering a few questions. And please pass this note to others willing to share their experience with employer-based health insurance. All the best, Michael Caputo Analyst, Public Insight Journalism Minnesota Public Radio News (651) 290-1081 mcaputo@mpr.org What is the Public Insight Network? The Public Insight Network is you and thousands of others like you who have agreed to share what they know to help public radio cover the news, find stories, and add depth to our reporting. As part of the Public Insight Network, you have an open line into our newsroom and programs. We'll send you about an e-mail a month asking for your knowledge on issues and stories we are pursuing.

---

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Summery St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) viewers:

"Our World In Depth" cablecasts on SPNN Channel 15 on Tuesdays at 5pm,
midnight and Wednesday mornings at 10am, after DemocracyNow!  All
households with basic cable may watch.


** Tomorrow/Tues, 6/23, 5pm & midnight and Wed, 6/24, 10am **

Ramona Africa from the Haile Q. Brown Center

in 1985, the Philadelphia police department dropped a bomb on the home of
Ramona Africa's family massacring 11.  Ramona, a member of the MOVE
organization, was the sole adult survivor of the incident.  Ramona talks
more about MOVE, and critiques "the system".  filmed in St. Paul in April
2009.  note: due to a previous scheduling error, this show is repeated :)


** Tues, 6/30, 5pm & midnight and Wed, 7/1, 10am **

Single Payer: HELL YEAH!

longtime Twin Cities nurse and single-payer health care advocate Faith
Kidder and DFL Progressive Caucus chair Dan Brown share their insights on,
and passion for, single-payer universal health care.  hosted by Eric Angell.


________________________________________________________________

Meandering Minneapolis Television Network (MTN) viewers:

"Our World In Depth" cablecasts on MTN Channel 17 on Saturdays at 9pm and
Tuesdays at 8am, after DemocracyNow!  Households with basic cable may
watch.


** Sat., 6/27, 9pm and Tues, 6/30, 8am **

Single Payer: HELL YEAH!

longtime Twin Cities nurse and single-payer health care advocate Faith
Kidder and DFL Progressive Caucus chair Dan Brown share their insights on,
and passion for, single-payer universal health care.  hosted by Eric Angell.

____________________________________

stream it: www.ourworldindepth.org
____________________________________

"Our World In Depth" features analysis of public affairs with
consideration of and participation from Twin Cities area activists.
Locally produced and not corporately influenced, "Our World In Depth" may
be better than PBS! Order a dvd copy or contact us at
ourworldindepth@....

Sent to my by Lydia Howell

Michael Cavlan RN

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

Justice4allwoc@... calls for united action!

Now that the loss of Obama support among Independents is being noticed (see
below) and can no longer be covered up, this is the moment for Independents,
Progressives, Grassroots, Working Class and the Left to step up and call for
Single Payer Health Care, Support for those who have already lost homes to
foreclosures, Release of truthful information that shows 48% of foreclosures
were targeted to women of color and most were related to inability to pay health
care costs, Support for those in danger of foreclosures, Closure of Guantanamo
and all US Secret Prison with full public disclosure, Release of all photos of
torture by US, Withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, Closure of most US military
bases in other countries, Reduction of $3 billion annual aid to
Israel--especially while it continues to exterminate Palestinians, prosecution
of those guilty of war crimes, increase support to aid prosecution of
discrimination against US citizens and residents based on racism, sexism,
homophobia, etc.

The more facts come before the public, the more Obama's popularity will drop
until action taken addresses the problems. Those who fail to act under this
circumstances are responsible for all that comes next.

Suzanne Brooks

OBAMA SLIP IN THE POLLS ATTRIBUTED TO INDEPENDENTS:
Obama's job approval rating fell to 58% in Gallup Poll daily tracking from June
16-18 -- a new low for Obama in Gallup tracking, although not dissimilar to the
59% he has received on four other occasions.
Thirty-three percent of Americans now disapprove of the job Obama is doing as
president, just one point shy of his record-high 34% disapproval score from
early June.
Skip over this content
Since Obama took office in January, his approval rating in Gallup tracking has
averaged 63%, and most of his three-day ratings have registered above 60%.
Approval of Obama did fall to 59% in individual readings in February, March,
April, and early June; however, in each case, the rating lasted only a day
before rebounding to at least 60%.
The latest decline in Obama's approval score, to 58%, results from a drop in
approval among political independents as well as among Republicans. Democrats
remain as highly supportive of the president as ever.
Obama's approval rating was 60% from June 13-15, at which time 88% of Democrats,
60% of independents, and 25% of Republicans approved of the job he was doing. In
the June 16-18 polling, Democrats' approval of him stands at 92% -- up slightly
-- whereas approval is down among both independents (by seven points) and
Republicans (by four points).
Bottom Line
Since February, Obama's weekly approval ratings from Republicans have
consistently averaged close to 30% and from independents, close to 60%. With
Republican approval now down to 21% and independent approval down to 53%,
Obama's overall job approval has dipped to a new low for his presidency.
It is not clear what's behind the decline, but two issues have received
considerable play in the news this week, and could be contributing factors. On
Monday, the president received bad news on health care reform from the
Congressional Budget Office, whose estimate of the cost of one reform plan
caused sticker shock on Capitol Hill. This may be feeding into public concerns
about the administration's deficit spending.
At the same time, the disputed Iranian presidential election has been front-page
news. Obama's cautious response has sparked sharp criticism from Republican Sen.
John McCain and many on the political right who are eager for him to declare the
election a "fraud," and to show more solidarity with the Iranian protesters.
Skip over this content
Survey Methods
Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,504 national adults, aged 18
and older, conducted June 16-18, 2009, as part of Gallup Poll Daily tracking.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95%
confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on land-line telephones (for
respondents with a land-line telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who
are cell-phone only).
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in
conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public
opinion polls.
Copyright © 2009 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.
2009-06-21 20:25:17

Hi All,

I'm really excited about Pride Festival and i view our booth as fun
and a bit of a party. The theme this yr seems to be "Our Rights, Your
Rights, Human Rights". So single-payer HC as a human right fits in
well. It would also be great if anyone on this list from a GLBT group
could network with us, or other ideas ?

For those who may be able to Table let me know when you can table
(see below). (Dori will simultaneously be do Comm work for North Star
Health Collective medics on the Dyke March). I dont have the booth
assignment/location yet, but will let everyone know as soon as i do.
If you are not on the list below, feel free to let me know if you
want to table. We also need a few cheerleaders for the parade to do
"HMOs are jive Talkin" and "HMO U Ugly". So let me know if you can do
that.

In addition to our exhibit board, and usual lit. i have some GLBT
info and HC. A flyer on the current debate, and actions people can
take, including national/state single-payer bills, but also direct
actions, and the Prairie HEALTH Companions Fund, which i will send
out soon. Go to www.tc.pride.org for festival info.  Also on hand,
some health screening tests for those who want to do them, and single-
payer t-shirts for sale.  Obviously we can alternate walking around,
enjoying the other booths, music, food, drag shows.

I have the 10 x 10 pop-up tent. i still have to look-up our booth
assignment. Anyone who helps set-up the booth on friday at 11:30am
can attend the catered reception at the Women's Club next to Loring
Park. So come for the food and stay for the conversation.

The Festival hrs are sat june 27 10am to 1opm
and sun june 28th 10am-5pm
so that's when we need folks to table.

Carol Halonen: sun 1-4.
Joel albers:   sat 10a-12:30p and 6:30p-10pm, sun 1p-5p
Harry Greenberg:
Zev Aeloney:
Dori Ullman
Beth Shapiro:

I'm picking up the 10 x 10 pop-up tent today. Set-up day is this
friday the 26th, and anyone who tables can attend the reception at
the Women's Club across from Loring Park hosted by Quorum, TC GLBT
Chamber of commerce, and TC Pride. I have to RSVP by June 22, so let
me know soon.
thanks,
joel

Medicare: Made in America – DC Lobby Day and Rally

July, 30th, 2009, Washington, DC

Celebrate Medicare's 44th Birthday by showing Congress and President Obama the people, unions, doctors, nurses, seniors, faith groups, and Americans of every stripe support a single-payer system.

As President Obama says, "We must build on what works and leave out what doesn't." Medicare has
successfully provided care to seniors and people with disabilities for almost half a century. Medicare is a truly American-made system that other health care systems around the world have since been modeled after. With little over 3% administrative overhead, we must look to this American solution to our health care crisis.

The best way to save this system is to expand it and make it a truly single-payer system by removing the for-profit interests.

Polls consistently show that the public supports a Medicare for All system, and 59% of physicians support it. In the face of inadequate reform to our health care system, we want Congress to make sure our voice is heard.

The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care is launching a rally and lobby day on Thursday, July 30th in Washington DC with concurrent actions around the country to bring this message to Washington DC and the Congress.

The Rally and Lobby Day in DC are currently being planned and logistics will be announced soon.

We urge you and your organization to help support this important action in any of the following ways:

1) Cosponsor the event in DC by providing a donation to the effort or providing buses and/or accommodations for your members or supporters to join us for the day. Please complete the cosponsorship form below.

2) Provide a speaker for the rally planned in Washington DC.

3) Personally deliver a message to your Members of Congress on July 30th in DC and/or in the home district of your Representatives that you support expanding and improving Medicare for All.

4) Join the planning committee of this event to add support to the many things that must be done in preparation.

5) Donate to help fund the rally. Send checks to California Nurses Association National Nurses Organizing Committee, National Nurses Organizing Committee 888 16th St NW Suite 640 Washington, DC 20006, memo: July 30th

We look forward to hearing from you soon about how you would like to get involved!

http://www.healthcare-now.org/campaigns/single-payer-rally/

I am all in favour of the single payer system,.
         Why do we need to reinvent the wheel and come up with a new sysytem.   
Lets make a phone call to Ottawa, and adapt the Canadian health care system.  
Assuming the numbers are correct,  we can insure all americans  for  about  1.5
trillion dollars a year, or  under $6000 dollars  a person(these numbers are
based on the cost that Canada pays for their health care)

     Now I know their are problems with the Canadain system one of them being,
that becuase its completely free, their are some abuses to it.  But  many people
believe that  this can be reduced by having a co-pay.

    Second.  Do not believe those who says that depending on your age you might
not get care.  If that was the cases,  why is the  Canadain government spening
,money to keep my grandmother who has Alzhimers alive.

   Third, Yes their are lines in Canada and a waiting list.  But at least you get
the option to stand in line.  Of course their are no lines in the United States,
Why should their be,  if you know  your not going to get the care, why bother
waiting in line.

     Fourth, almost no one in Canada desires the american System
but  I can tell  you many people would love to have the Canadian system

Fifth.  Doctors in Canada spend time with you and will go out of the way.   When
my mother fainted at home,  The doctor maade a house call.   When  is the last
time  that a Doctor in the USA made a house call.  My wife tells me it does not
happan.


Thank You

Marc

Hi Everyone,

The Pride Festival UHCAN-MN is registered for is fast approaching
saturday and sunday, june 27 and 28th, 10am-10pm and 10am-5pm, If you
are available to do some tabling during these hours, especially
saturday from 1-6, your help would be very appreciated. It will be
fun, and you willhave plenty of time to enjoy the festival if we can
have at least one person at the booth. UHCAN-MN has all the resources
needed like literature, talking points, and health screenings for
those interested in that. There will also be a free reception with
food and drink on friday afternoon after set-up.

One thing we dont yet have, but need, is a 10 x 10 booth, or canopy,
like for camping or what not.
If anyone knows of one we can borrow,pls let me know asap.

thanks,
joel

I agree with what everyone else has said and would also clearly point out
the "personal" financial interests that 30 key lawmakers responsible for
drafting policy related to the healthcare crisis have in the healthcare
industry. See Monday's democracynow! episode as well as the original
washington post article for more details. We all know very well that health
insurance companies have a heavy corporate lobby hand in our congress and
is primarily concerned with profit. Just look at the recent report
uncovering the investments that insurance companies have in the tobacco
industry. It doesn't take a genius to come to the conclusion that profit is
the only driver of these companies. Why is the US the only industrialized
(or post-industrialized I would say) country that doesn't have some form of
a single payer system, especially when the majority of people, and the
majority of doctors want it? We cannot be pacified by half-measures. We
need real investment in healthcare in this country for the people and by
the people. We need to train our own physicians instead of stealing them
from developing countries, we need to build an infrastructure that is
accessible and available equally to every one, and we need to cut out the
profiteering beauocracy and middlemen. A public option is not a real option
if what we are actually concerned with is securing healthcare for all. With
a public option, I envision America's healthcare system as multi-tiered
with the top of the tier receiving advanced life-saving treatments and
diagnostics from the very best physicians at a high and private cost while
the poor are left with inadequately funded public health insurance
providing at best basic measures, less access to life-saving treatments
from overly strained physicians. The healthcare system in America is a
global issue and reform starts right here. Props to the baucus 13. But the
fight doesn't end there. Getting our voices heard is not enough to pacify
us. And neither would be the provision of mandated buy-in to substandard
and insufficient public health insurance. The people running this country
need to open their ears and their minds to REAL CHANGE, 'cause this just
isn't working. We need to stop investing in a system that obviously doesn't
work.

Peace ya'll,
Rebecca


On Jun 16 2009, Andra Fjone wrote:

>Joel,
>
>Thanks. My daughter is a high school English teacher. She and her education
>colleagues characterize Obama's plan for reforming the education system as
>"Bush light". Disappointingly, his health care reform plan smacks of the
>same.
>
>Andra Fjone
>
>
>
>  _____
>
>From: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com [mailto:uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
>Of Joel Albers
>Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 1:31 PM
>To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [uhcan-mn] single-payer v. public option
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Interested in your views of whether progressives should advocate for
>single-payer "Medicare for All" and/or the Obama's individual mandate
>for individuals, small businesses, and self-employed to buy private
>coverage with a Medicare buy-in option, that is, the Medicare buy-in
>option.
>
>Myself, Carol, and Beth had an impromptu discussion on this and came
>up with the following as a cpourse of action for UHCAN-MN and
>advancing a progressive framwork for debate. i will show cost
>estimates later. To summarize, SP is gaining much traction through
>direct action, and we should continue this, and demand Congressional
>hearings on single-payer, and other forms of real democracy, perhaps
>form our own Commission etc. Direct Action has helped galvanize the
>media to report on SP. By not keeping our eyes on the prize, and
>only advocate for the "public option", could seriously divide this
>movement. Also, by advocating "Medicare for All", it is understood
>that the Medicare public option would be the fallback position. Tom
>at Schneider drug where i work and i were discussing putting together
>a flyer, possible press release, and press conference on this since
>it is all over the media right now, and in the public eye.
>
>thanks,
>joel
>
>
>
>

Interested in your views of whether progressives should advocate for
single-payer "Medicare for All" and/or the Obama's individual mandate
for individuals, small businesses, and self-employed to buy private
coverage with a Medicare buy-in option, that is, the Medicare buy-in
option.

Myself, Carol, and Beth had an impromptu discussion on this and came
up with the following as a cpourse of action for UHCAN-MN and
advancing a progressive framwork for debate. i will show  cost
estimates later. To summarize,  SP is gaining much traction through
direct action, and we should continue this, and demand Congressional
hearings on single-payer, and other forms of real democracy, perhaps
form our own Commission etc. Direct Action has helped galvanize the
media to report on SP.  By not keeping our eyes on the prize, and
only advocate for the "public option", could seriously divide this
movement. Also, by advocating "Medicare for All", it is understood
that the Medicare public option would be the fallback position. Tom
at Schneider drug where i work and i were discussing putting together
a flyer, possible press release, and press conference on this since
it is all over the media right now, and in the public eye.

thanks,
joel