Rob Andrews Responds to Email

When the announcement to go soft on the public option was announced, my colleague Dave posted on this blog, encouraging everyone to write their congressperson and express how important they believe this bill to be. To reiterate, there is no progress or change when what I personally consider to be the most important part of the reform bill -- providing a health care option to the ~50 million uninsured Americans -- is softened due to false rumors and fear of revolt.

I took the initiative and wrote my own Congressman, Rob Andrews of New Jersey's 1st District. While he didn't actually read my letter (as evidenced by the fact that while I wrote him in support of his opinion, the response seems to believe I was against it), it exposes some of the truths about the bill itself. I'd like to post my response from Congressman Andrews here in the hopes that it may be used as an education tool to any readers of this blog, as well as to any friends of readers who believe the rumors and hearsay about the bill. Unfortunately, Andrews does not confirm or deny the existence of death panels in this letter.

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about our health care system. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to contact me and I apologize for the delay in my response.

I want to make changes to our health care system because health care costs are spiraling out of control. Health insurance premiums have doubled over the last decade. Your premiums are projected to double again over the next decade. Last year, more than half of all Americans postponed medical care or skipped their medication because they could not afford it. American families deserve more. I have read H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, and I am dedicated to ensuring that our families receive better, more affordable health insurance. As a result, I support President Obama’s initiative to improve the health insurance system.

The bill will lower your health care costs by giving you more choices for your health insurance. Plus, if you have a pre-existing condition like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny you coverage or charge you a very high premium. There will be a limit of how much you and your family have to spend for health care out of your own pocket. Let me clarify some of the bill’s other provisions:

1. No one will be forced into a public plan. This is not about putting the government in charge of your health insurance. Absolutely no one will be forced to give up their private insurance or enroll in a government health plan. The proposal will simply give Americans more options for health insurance coverage.

2. If you like your health insurance, you can keep your insurance. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your current plan, you keep your current plan.

3. Taxes will not be raised for middle-class families. A couple making less than $325,000 a year will pay no new taxes under H.R. 3200. Today, middle-class families pay an enormous “hidden tax” of nearly $1,100 per year to provide care for the uninsured and underinsured. Under the proposed bill, these hidden costs will be eliminated. In fact, reducing health care costs will help grow the middle class for the first time since the 1990s.

4. Most small businesses will not be affected. Only 2.1% of all small business owners would be affected by health insurance reform. The remaining 97.9% of small business owners would be completely unaffected by the changes but would benefit from the American-style market competition created by the bill.

Because there are so many misconceptions about the bill, you need to understand what H.R. 3200 does not do. It does not deny any person on Medicare (or any other plan) coverage for any care that their doctor thinks is appropriate. It does not spend any taxpayer money on abortions. It does not provide coverage for illegal immigrants. Most importantly, it doesn’t let people with modest incomes go without health insurance.

As health care legislation continues to move forward, your thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Thank you again for contacting me and if I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me again.


Sincerely,

Robert Andrews
Member of Congress