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HCAN/PM Fight for Families in How Maryland
Implements Health Reform, State Exchanges
House Passes Repeal of Health Care Reform with No 'Replacement' and No Chance in Senate
PM, Md. HCAN Oppose House Repeal Vote, Criticize Rep. Andy Harris (Md-1) for Arrogance, Hypocrisy at Annapolis News Event (Release and Costs to Md.)
Affordable, Quality Health Care for All
The Disastrous State of Health Care in America
Few concerns weigh so heavily on families as health care. Anyone paying family medical bills or reading the newspaper knows the tragic state of health care in America. In early 2010, fifty million Americans lacked any health insurance (700,000 in Maryland alone) and millions more were saddled with expensive but inadequate coverage and diminishing employer plans. Medical costs continue to soar, well above the rate of inflation, hand in hand with record profits to greedy drug companies and the woefully wasteful private insurance industry -- which is all too quick to reject patients with "pre-existing conditions" and deny even life-saving services on the slightest pretext. The poor often receive no treatment until their worsening condition forces them to a hospital emergency room, or even costs their lives. Working families still live in constant fear of losing their jobs and coverage, or going bankrupt trying to pay the costs of treating a catastrophic illness or injury.
The historic national health care reform passed by Congress in March 2010 and signed by President Obama is already ensuring more Americans are covered and moderating some abusive practices by insurance companies. And it will bring more significant improvements over the next few years as it takes full effect, despite the law's many shortcomings and lack of a public plan option – something Progressive Maryland and our allies fought hard to include.
Progressive Maryland led the fight for passage in Maryland as state coordinator for the national coalition Health Care for America Now (HCAN) and will continue the fight to expand and improve coverage for all. See HCAN's analysis of health reform and its benefits for your family now and over the coming years, and the Overview of PM's Work to Pass National Health Reform as Maryland coordinator for HCAN.
At the state level, Progressive Maryland actively seeks reforms as a leading partner in the Health Care For All coalition, which was instrumental in helping pass Governor O’Malley and the General Assembly's historic expansion of health care access to 100,000 more Marylanders during the 2007 Special Session.
