Need help, guys - Congress/Senate folk who are health care specialists

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I have a radio friend with a HORRIFIC story about the insurance coverage he thought he had through our union (AFTRA) and how he had to fight tooth and claw for it - even despite the efforts of some AFTRA people who really tried to help him fight for it. HOLY COW! I'm about to email him to encourage him to contact some House and Senate people, and at the moment, I'm drawing a blank. I'd love some suggestions of names and resources if you have any.

Thank you in advance, as usual!

PS - this isn't for me or any thread of mine. But I'd still appreciate the help.

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1. Kicking this...

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. um...none that i can think of on our side...

However, the rethugs have a OB/GYN and a vet in the Senate...

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5. Yeah. Especially that guy who diagnoses things by looking at a few

minutes of videotape.

:grr:

[ncrainbowgrrl]

6. Oh yeah- forgot about him. So, they have 3!

:eyes:

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7. Um... I can understand forgetting about him. I sure would like to.

Only I can't quite dismiss the whole Terri Schiavo debacle from my mind. Otherwise I'd say he is infinitely and colossally forgettable. And I sure wouldn't turn to him for heart surgery, OR a second opinion.

BTW - whoever recommended this thread - thank you!

[Sanity Claws]

3. Michael Moore, the filmmaker,

is doing a film on health care called Sicko. I think he's collecting stories. Maybe your friend can contact him.

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4. I just saw that, elsewhere here.

And evidently it's already rattling big Pharm cages before it's even formally released (GOOD!). I copied the story's link

http://adage.com/article?article_id=111424

into an email to him.

Thanks for the response! Is this issue something Kucinich is big on?

[Nite Owl]

8. Try Jim McDermott

CD7 Washington state. He was a doctor and is definitely one of the good guys.

edited for bad typing!

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9. Oh, gracious yes. I LOVE Jim McDermott.

You're correct - he most definitely IS one of the good guys! And on more fronts than just health care.

Thanks!

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10. Guys - thanks for these ideas!

They're all good, and I shall pass them on.

And speaking of good ideas, we've got a state Senator working in Sacramento who's on the health care issue with all her might:

The honorable, excellent and MOST distinguished Good Guy(Gal, actually) Sheila Kuehl.

Another view: SB 840 will cure state's struggles with health care
By Sheila Kuehl -- Special to The Bee
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, August 20, 2006
I couldn't agree more with the editorial that health care reform must start on the common ground that our current system is failing everyone involved.
However, the increasing costs of health insurance premiums are bankrupting our state, our businesses and working families. One in five Californians has no health insurance today, and increasing numbers of businesses are planning to drop their health insurance by next year.

Nibbling around the edges with incremental change is not enough. We need courageous and thoughtful reform that provides what all Californians want -- affordable access to good-quality health care. This is what SB 840 achieves.

The current health care system and attempts at "reform" fail because they simply bicker about who is going to pay instead of addressing the underlying reasons for out-of-control health care costs. The Sacramento Bee highlights the approach taken in Massachusetts, which, if applied in California, would legally require everyone to purchase private health insurance policies and pay endlessly increasing premiums into the current system that is completely broken. Proponents of the model in Massachusetts even say the reform is not workable in California.

(snip)

Universal health care is the best answer, and it is possible now. SB 840 works by pooling our health care resources so that everyone -- state and federal government, income earners and employers -- all pay in, and Californians all get quality coverage. SB 840 reduces costs and guarantees your right to choose your own doctor. It saves businesses money and is affordable for families.

Polls show that a majority of Californians support universal health care -- there is no more common ground than that.


About the writer:
Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, is responding to The Bee's Aug. 13 editorial "Health reform must start on common ground." She can be reached at [email protected]

As long as I'm on the subject, I realized I could not neglect including her, or bringing her to DU's attention.

[mb7588a]

11. state-based

Health insurance is regulated at the state level in most cases. If he contacts his local state rep and state senator they have caseworkers can look at his case and see if anything can be done.

It woudln't hurt to talk to his congressman and senators, but at the state level he'd probably be more successful.