Wendell Potter, Cigna Executive Whistle Blower

What Is Single Payer Healthcare?

* Civilized Healthcare For All (Pennsylvanians)
* Everybody In--Nobody Out
*Privately Delivered--Publicly Delivered
* No Denial Of Coverage
* Raises Individual Standard Of Living
* Improves Quality Of Life AND Saves Lives
* Generates Huge Healthcare Savings--
through lower administrative costs, blk purchasing of pharmaceuticals,etc--
while stimulating the economy and eliminating state and local budget deficits

WHY PENNSYLVANIA? WHY NOW?

* 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are uninsured
* 2 million more are underinsured
* Pennsylvania health insurance rates are higher and growing faster than national average
* 76% of Pennsylvanians believe our healthcare system is broken
* 68% of Pennsylvanians believe the government should guarantee healthcare for all
* Pennsylvanians are being crushed by the cost and denial of healthcare, and our cities and municipalities face financial crisis and turmoil

WHAT DOES SB 400/HB 1660 DO?

Pays for most health-related care including:
* Rehab Services
* Mental Health
* Hospice Care
* Vision and Dental
* Preventive Care
* Home Health Care
* Chiropractic
* Alternative Medicine
* Prescription Drugs

And Much More.......

No exclusions for pre-existing conditions; no co-pays; no deductibles--only a 3% Wellness Tax Surcharge

Here Is A Partial List of Organizations That Have Endorsed SB 400/HB 1660

* PA AFL-CIO
* Allegheny City Council
* American Medical Students Association (AMSA)
* Keystone Progress
* Pennsylvania Association Of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals
* Philadelphia City Council
* Pennsylvania Council Of Churches
* Pennsylvania League Of Women Voters
* Pennsylvania National Organization Of Women
* Philadelphia Physicians For Social Responsibility
* Pittsburgh City Council
* Physicans For A National Health Program

"In 2009, for the first time, all Lancaster PA City Employees will make contributions to the cost of Health Insurance benefits..."

"Health insurance...[is] is a crisis that threatens the financial stabilility of our city...in the 2007 study...the PA Economy League found that the fiscal distress of our municipalities is ... due to the "crushing burden" of funding healthcare..."

Source: Lancaster City 2009 Adopted General Budget Summary & Five Year Budget Projection

Under SB 400/HB 1660, employers no longer will bear the burden of providing or administering employee healthcare benefits... Our private healthcare system will continue, but a Medicare-type system will be set up to pay the bills.

Employers will contribute a 10% wellness payroll tax as their "Fair Share" toward financing the system. For most employers, this will represent a substantial cost savings, and the various governments and school boards of Lancaster County are no exception.

COST OF HEALTHCARE BENEFITS TO OUR LANCASTER PA COMMUNITY VERSUS WHAT THEY WOULD BE UNDER SB 400/HB 1660

Lancaster City (Cost in Employee Healthcare Benefits in 2008) $9.1 Million (32% of Payroll) (Substitute 10% Payroll Tax) $2.8 Million (Savings) $6.3 Million

Lancaster City School District (Cost in Employee Healthcare Benefits in 2008) $16.1 Million (22% of Payroll) (Substitute 10% Payroll Tax) $7.3 Million (Savings) $8.8 Million

Lancaster County (Cost in Employee Healthcare Benefits in 2008) $16.2 Million (21% of Payroll) (Substitute 10% Payroll Tax) $7.7 Million (Savings) $8.5 Million

All Remaining Lancaster County Municipalities And School Boards (Cost in Employee Healthcare Benefits in 2008) $78.6 Million (20% of Payroll) (Substitute 10% Payroll Tax) $40.1 Million (Savings) $38.5 Million

I hate to toot my own horn: But Wendell Potter and I are talking on FaceBook and he told me that he will take part in our 10/20 Single Payer Rally In Harrisburg, Capitol Rotunda!!

After the event, we will lobby for HB 1660 throughout the Capitol Building!