New Group Launches $40 million Nationwide Health Care Reform Campaign

In another sign that affordable health care ranks among the top concerns of Americans, a new national organization in Miami yesterday launched a push for health care reform, pledging $40 million in advertising campaigns towards the effort.

The group, Health Care of America (HCAN), says it is forming now to ensure that the first order of business of the next president and congress is to pass legislation in 2009 that guarantees quality, affordable health care for all.

"In 2009, we will either have a guarantee of quality, affordable health care we all can count on or we will continue to be at the mercy of the private health insurance industry that is charging us more, giving us less and putting company profits before our health," Monica Russo of the SEIU Florida Healthcare Union said in a press release.

Health care industry experts say reform that encourages coverage for all American’s would significantly curb medical bad debt, which is rapidly increasing due to the growing number of uninsured and rising self-pay accounts.

HCAN is being launched by 95 national and local groups that represent labor and community organizations, doctors, nurses, women, small businesses, faith-based organizations, people of color, activists, and think tanks.  The coalition is being led by ACORN, AFSCME, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn, National Education Association, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Food and Commercial Workers, and USAction.

On Tuesday HCAN kicked off its advertising campaign with $1.5 million in national television, print and online advertising.  The group said it also plans to send out email blast to more than 5 million people. Over the next five months, HCAN pledged to spend $25 million in paid media and have 100 organizers in 45 states.

HCAN says its vision for health care reform allows Americans to keep their private insurance, join a new private plan, or choose a public health insurance plan.  The campaign also will call for government to play a role in setting and enforcing rules on insurers to promote affordable coverage.

"Here in Miami and in communities all across the country, we’re asking one question, which side are you on,” Russo said in a press release. “Are you on the side of quality, affordable health care? Or are you on the side of being left alone to fend for yourself in a complicated, bureaucratic insurance market?"