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Group Plans Major Push for Universal Health Care(Day, The (New London, CT) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Aug. 25--It's going to take a lot of voices clamoring from all corners of the state to make accessible, affordable, high-quality health care available to all Connecticut residents. At least that's what key players in the movement toward creating a universal health-care system in Connecticut believe. And in eastern Connecticut, a group has formed to make sure this end of the state is part of what advocates are hoping becomes a groundswell. Three forums are planned for early fall to give the region's residents a chance to learn more about the issue and get involved. "We want people to tell their stories about their experiences with a broken system -- with access and quality of care and disparities," said Perry Montrose, chairman of the new local group. While universal health care can be accomplished in many different ways, its essential component is the guarantee that all residents, regardless of income, can obtain both routine and complex health care when they need it, at a price they can afford. Currently, 365,000 residents are uninsured, about one in nine people, and many more people and businesses are being squeezed by health-insurance costs. Advocates of universal health care believe it would be a more efficient, business-friendly system than the current patchwork of private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, the uninsured and charity care. Universal health care, they believe, would save the state money. "This is an all-out campaign to change the system," said Gianna Johnston of East Lyme, one of the leaders of the six-month-old group and host of a gathering last Sunday at her home with about 40 people, including about a half-dozen state lawmakers, to begin publicizing the group's efforts. The group, which considers the issue neither a Republican nor Democratic one, was pleased that it was a major component of the platforms of both Democratic gubernatorial candidates in the Aug. 8 primary, which New Haven Mayor John DeStefano won. The group has affiliated with a statewide nonprofit group, the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, and also is working with the Eastern Area Health Education Association in Jewett City, an offshoot of the University of Connecticut's School of Medicine. Working with various local groups across the state is part of the Universal Health Care Foundation's overall strategy to create a grassroots constituency to advocate for passage of a universal health care bill in the 2007 legislative session, said Lynne Ide, the group's campaign director. "We're using local organizations to familiarize people with the statewide effort," said Ide, adding that her group supports the local efforts with grant funds, research materials and other assistance. "We're trying to bring home to the policy makers that fixing our health-care system is an issue that effects the viability of our economy and the viability of families. We're talking about doing something big, not just talking around the edges." The recent passage of universal health care plans in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Maryland gives advocates hope that, after years of watching earlier proposals go nowhere, the time is right for Connecticut to succeed in this area, too. "Maybe it's like 'The Tipping Point,'" said Montrose, referring to the recent book by author Malcolm Gladwell. "We've hit that threshold" where costs of care and health insurance have risen beyond the point of affordability for enough individuals and businesses that people are concerned. The local group, with about a dozen core members thus far, calls itself the Health Care Task Force of United Action of Connecticut Eastern Region. United Action is an interfaith organization that works to find solutions to various problems, such as affordable housing, immigration rights and tax reform. Johnston and Montrose both became involved in United Action through their church, All Souls Unitarian-Universalist Church in New London. "This issue is something I care deeply about and have wanted to work on for a long time," said Montrose, who earns his living as director of religious education at All Souls. Ultimately, the task force is hoping to spawn a grass-roots movement of sorts in this part of the state made up of people from all walks of life who care about health care -- those without health insurance, those with too little coverage, doctors, nurses, state legislators, business owners and ordinary citizens who believe that the lack of universal health care is hurting Connecticut's economy and livability. A central part of its strategy is to collect accounts of problems with the current health-care system to give life to the statistics and financial arguments that will be presented to lawmakers in the 2007 session of the General Assembly. The stories are being collected on post cards and on the Universal Health Care Foundation's Web site, www.healthcare4every1.org. Among the entries already collected are several from this part of the state -- a 27-year-old in Jewett City with lupus; a part-time teacher from New London; a registered nurse from East Lyme; an unemployed nurse's aide from Stonington and a working nurse's aide from Pawcatuck. All describe difficulties they or their family members have had getting the care they need. "There are real people behind those numbers," said Montrose. MORE INFO For information on joining the local task force, send an e-mail to Montrose at: [email protected] or call him at 514-2434. ONLINE www.healthcare4every1.org To see more of The Day, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.theday.com. Copyright (c) 2006, The Day, New London, Conn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |