H.R. 3962 wins backing of AFL-CIO, Alliance for Retired Americans

The AFL-CIO and the Alliance for Retired Americans have joined CWA in supporting H.R. 3962, the latest version of the health reform bill in the House of Representatives.

"H.R. 3962 would make high-quality affordable health care a reality for millions of U.S. families, expanding coverage to 96 percent of legal U.S. residents while taking steps to rein in health care costs, stopping myriad insurance company abuses, and reducing the deficit by $104 billion over the first 10 years," the AFL-CIO said in a letter to Congress.

The federation also praises the bill for providing a public health insurance option to compete with insurance companies, for making all employers pay their fair share toward health insurance and for helping pre-Medicare retirees.

In a letter signed by its president, Barbara Easterling - retired CWA secretary-treasurer - the Alliance for Retired Americans said the bill responds to "the health care needs of older Americans, none more important than Medicare improvements."  The alliance is an organization for retirees supported by labor unions and community groups.

Among the Medicare improvements in H.R. 3962, the alliance said, are elimination of the prescription "donut hole" and provision of discount brand-name medicines for seniors; elimination of co-payments for Medicare preventive services; elimination of overpayments to insurance companies for Medicare plans; and requiring the government to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors.

CWA has already endorsed H.R. 3962, and is asking members to use the new Mobile Activist feature to contact members of the House in support of the bill, which could come up for a vote in the next week.