It is time to take meaningful steps toward solutions.
You can help.
Cover the Uninsured Week 2006 is May 1-7. The National Association of Social Workers will join with other organizations and individuals across the country to tell our leaders that health care coverage for Americans must be a priority. There are many ways you can get involved leading up to and during the Week. NASW believes that all individuals have a right to an affordable, accessible, and quality health care continuum.
NASW is highly supportive of increasing access to health care coverage for all uninsured people, but we oppose S. 1955, the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, because it would eviscerate behavioral health and most other mandatory health benefits, preempt over 30 social work “freedom of choice” laws and eliminate basic consumer protections, all the while producing a different premium structure that will make it much more expensive for higher risk groups and individuals to afford any insurance.
NASW urges the Senate pass an alternative approach to making more affordable insurance available to small employer groups. The new Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2006 (S.2510), by Sens. Lincoln and Durbin offers comprehensive coverage for small employer groups that does not undermine coverage for everyone else or preempt state benefit and provider mandates. Urge your Senators to reject HIMMA (S.1955) and support S.2510 offered by Sens. Lincoln and Durbin.
This year, Cover the Uninsured Week is highlighting ways everyone can help get America covered.
Go to www.CoverTheUninsured.org/ to:
- Spread the word by sending a Cover the Uninsured Week e-mail to your friends and asking them to help get America covered.
- Get involved in Cover the Uninsured Week activities and show your support.
- Download free materials at http://www.covertheuninsured.org/materials to help you plan events promote the issue of the uninsured and help get America covered. Available materials include stickers, banners, handouts and campus, interfaith and health and enrollment fair planning guides.
- View updated state resource guides designed to help people living without health insurance find help that may be available at www.CoverTheUninsured.org/stateguides.
You can stay connected with other social workers who are interested in health care, by joining the Health Specialty Practice Section.
You can find additional information about health, mental health, and social work on NASW’s Web site.
Join NASW's Advocacy Listserv to stay informed about health developments on Capitol Hill.
Visit www.CoverTheUninsured.org/ to learn more.
Let's get America covered!
Dina L. Zarrella, MSS/MLSP
Senior Field Organizer
National Association of Social Workers
(202) 336-8218
mailto:dzarrella@naswdc.org
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