Response from Chris Carney

[Several of us have gotten the following email response to letters we've sent to Chris Carney (PA-10) in support of healthcare reform. The response is somewhat encouraging in that, in the opening paragraphs, he acknowledges the current problems and the need for reform. It is somewhat discouraging, however, that he refers to the house bill (H.R. 3200) but never states whether he is for or against it, and he mentions some other bill (H.R. 2360) that I've never heard of but which sounds like a competitor to H.R. 3200. We need to keep the pressure on Mr. Carney to remind him how important it is that he support the bill that includes a public option.]

Dear ___,
Thank you for your message supporting health insurance reform. Hearing from the people of northeast and central Pennsylvania is an integral part of my job in Congress and I appreciate you taking the time to contact me.

People throughout Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District have contacted me to express their concern with insufficient and shrinking health care coverage and skyrocketing costs. Forty-six million Americans are completely without health insurance, including over one million people from Pennsylvania. At the same time, health care costs are increasing at an unsustainable rate. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research Educational Trust, premiums increased by 98 percent while wages only increased by 23 percent from 2000 to 2007. This puts a huge strain on our middle-class families.

Increasing health care costs also threaten our nation's ability to compete in the global economy. In the past ten years, the cost of health insurance to businesses has increased 140 percent. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that spending on health care and related activities will total $2.6 trillion in 2009 - 17 percent of our gross domestic product. Our current health care system is unsustainable. We need common sense health reform that will provide all Americans access to affordable, quality coverage, while reducing costs. Any reform effort must ensure that preexisting conditions are covered, must protect an individual's right to keep their own insurance and their own doctor, must provide security to people who lose or change jobs, and must not raise the federal deficit.

Recently, comprehensive health reform legislation, H.R. 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation focuses on a few key factors. It ensures that every American has comprehensive health insurance even if they lose their job or get sick. It stops insurance companies from denying coverage to people based on preexisting conditions, requires insurance companies to renew coverage, and prevents them from rescinding coverage. For the millions of people who have insurance through their employer, nothing changes. Individuals and small businesses that do not have or cannot afford insurance could purchase affordable coverage through a "health insurance exchange." This exchange pools risk, lowering premiums for everyone. It also provides a wide array of insurance plans to choose from including, potentially, a public option. Finally, the bill provides individuals and families who cannot afford health insurance with limited subsidies to purchase coverage.

The Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor considered and passed versions of this legislation in late July. These versions must be reconciled before the full House of Representatives can consider the legislation. A vote on passage may take place this fall. Also, the Senate is working on comprehensive health reform legislation and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee already passed a bill. However, the Senate Finance Committee has yet to complete its version.

You may be interested to know that I supported H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan legislation reauthorized the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through 2013, preserving coverage for 7 million children already covered by SCHIP, including over 227,000 children in Pennsylvania. It also expanded coverage to an additional 4.1 million uninsured children, who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid. It passed the House of Representatives on February 4, 290 to 135, and was signed into law. I also cosponsored H.R. 1619, the Children's Health Protection Act of 2009, which prohibits insurers from imposing pre-existing condition limitations on children.

I am also a proud cosponsor of H.R. 2360, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), which would make health insurance more affordable, predictable, and accessible for small businesses and the self-employed. It offers tax incentives to encourage states to reform poorly functioning small group insurance markets and encourages the development of state exchanges backstopped by a voluntary, nationwide exchange.

This process still has a long way to go. It is vital that Congress show due diligence and get this reform effort right. I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind as Congress considers this issue.

Thank you again for contacting me and please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Christopher P. Carney
Member of Congress