Over the past few weeks, we've seen a lot of changes in the battle for health care reform in Washington. It seems like every day there's a new development, a new plan, a new compromise. One thing that hasn't changed: dishonest attacks on Planned Parenthood and the women, men, and teens we serve.
You can make a difference against those attacks by writing a letter to the editor.
You can bet that opponents of women's reproductive health care are not letting up.
Here's what you can do right now:
Write and send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Tell them the TRUTH about health care reform and Planned Parenthood. You can share how reproductive health care is crucial to women's health, and that removing this coverage from the health care reform bill is a price that women aren't willing to pay.
Let us know you took action by emailing webmaster@ppgg.org.
Sample letter:
The harsh reality for women is getting lost in the shuffle of the health care reform debate. While opponents use fear tactics to undermine American’s support for health care reform, there are 46 million uninsured people in this country who desperately need health care. Shockingly, 21% of the women in California don’t have coverage.
For more than 60% of the patients who come through our doors at Planned Parenthood, we are their primary source of health care. Through us they find access to annual exams, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment and contraception. These services, and community providers like Planned Parenthood, are essential to women and families leading healthy lives and must be included in health care reform. I fear that without them, health care reform could leave women worse off than they are today.
Bay Area newspapers:
- Press Democrat: email letters@pressdemocrat.com
- Marin Independent Journal: email opinion@marinij.com
- Oakland Tribune: http://www.ppaction.org/ct/y1SLiqE1WrsL/
- Alameda Times Star: email letters@bayareanewsgroup.com
- San Mateo County Times: http://www.ppaction.org/ct/ydSLiqE1Wrs_/
- San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.ppaction.org/ct/y7SLiqE1WrsA/
Recommended talking points for your letter to the editor:
- I support eliminating discrimination for pre-existing conditions, health status or gender: 9% of people in California have diabetes, and 25% have high blood pressure – two conditions that insurance companies could use as a reason to deny you health insurance. Health insurance reform will prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on your health, and it will end discrimination that charges you more if you’re sick or a woman.
- I support preventive care for better health, and believe that reproductive health care – including abortion care – is basic health care. 40% of California residents have not had a colorectal cancer screening, and 17% of women have not had a mammogram in the past 2 years. By requiring health plans to cover preventive services for everyone, investing in prevention and wellness, and promoting primary care, health insurance reform will work to create a system that prevents illness and disease instead of just treating it when it’s too late and costs more.
- A bill that excludes reproductive health care coverage means women will be worse off than they are now.
- Anti health reform groups are trying to use abortion to derail real reform and have spread a lot of misinformation. Here’s the facts: nothing in the insurance reform proposals would "mandate" abortion coverage.
- More than 86 percent of employer-based insurance plans now provide coverage for abortion. If anti-choice groups get their way, millions of women will be at risk of losing coverage they already have.
- Women MUST be allowed to continue to access the health care providers of their choice — including Planned Parenthood. Cutting community providers like Planned Parenthood out of health care reform will harm millions of women, men, and families.
- I believe that health care reform should INCREASE access to health care — not DECREASE it.
Thanks for taking the time to help us set the record straight! Remembr to let us know you took action by emailing webmaster@ppgg.org.
