Check out our blog, and dispel the myths about health care reform. 

On June 25th, HCAN and their partners mobilized thousands of people in our Capitol to demand quality, affordable health care for all.  We told our Senators and Representatives that we can't wait any longer for reform that will lower health care costs, offer the choice of a public health insurance option, and keep the insurance industry honest.  See video from the Rally here!

The American public is now declaring its independence from the insurance industry, and we are signing up people across the country to tell Congress that we need an American solution to meet our health care needs.  It's time to have a choice when it comes to our health insurance. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident;  we need health care reform that will provide:

·      Coverage we can afford;

·      Comprehensive benefits we can count on;

·      Choice of a private or public health insurance plan;

·      Equal access to quality care

Sign the Petition Here

July 3, 2009

Indianapolis, Indiana -

The skyrocketing cost of health insurance is increasingly putting health care out of reach of working families and businesses in Indiana, according to a new report released today by Jobs with Justice as part of Health Care for America Now (HCAN) – the nation’s largest health care campaign. 

Health insurance premiums for Indiana working families have gone up 83 percent between 2000 and 2007. In dollars, that means the cost of family health coverage in

• The full cost of employer-sponsored insurance in Indiana equals 26 percent of the median family income. Without meaningful health reform, that number will grow to 56 percent in 2016.
• The full cost of employer-sponsored health insurance in Indiana is projected to grow at an annual rate of 8.7 percent, compared to a 0.04 percent annual increase in income.
• About 370,000 working non-elderly adults in Indiana do not have health insurance. That comprises 59 percent of the total non-elderly uninsured population.
• For family health coverage in Indiana, the average employer’s portion of annual premiums rose 75 percent from 2000 to 2007 while the average worker’s share grew by 116 percent.
• A recent report estimated that 62 percent of bankruptcies were directly related to medical bills; in Indiana there were 38,457 non-business bankruptcies in 2008.

 “These startling numbers show health insurance companies are taking advantage of hard-working families, and we cannot wait for comprehensive health care reform that puts people’s health care needs before health care industry profits,” said Allison Luthe from Central Indiana Jobs with Justice. “While Hoosiers are worrying whether health care will be there for them when they need it most, health insurers are busy spending money lobbying Members of Congress to vote against real choice and competition in the health care marketplace that will lower costs and keep insurance companies honest.”

Thirteen Health Care for America Now members from Indiana were among the thousands of health care activists who traveled to Washington, D.C. last week for a rally and the largest health care lobby day ever, demanding quality, affordable health care for all in 2009. The thirteen Hoosiers met for thirty minutes with Senator Evan Bayh, lobbying for the choice of a public health insurance option, explaining to him that the recently suggested regional co-op idea is not a viable solution and would not provide the national scale and scope of reform that is needed.

The Indiana delegation included health care reform advocates, a small business owner/registered nurse, students, union members and grassroots activist.  Allison Luthe, of Central Indiana Jobs with Justice, helped organize the delegation trip and reported, “Senator Bayh was very receptive to the idea of a public health insurance option.  He is waiting for the Senate Finance Committee’s version of the bill to come out after the July 4^th recess.  This gives us more time to tell him about the 78% of Americans who want the choice of a public option.”  Central Indiana Jobs with Justice leads the Health Care for America Now coalition in Indiana , and will partner with numerous organization over the holiday weekend to solicit support and educate Hoosiers about the public health insurance option.  For more information, visit www.centralindianajwj.org/hcan.

On June 25th, a delegation of more than 20 Hoosiers will be meeting with Senator Bayh in D.C. to talk about the choice of a public health insurance option. 

We need a new public health insurance plan that would force the private ones to compete, and

• Offer comprehensive health care benefits;
• Be funded by enrollee premiums, employer contributions and income-related government payments;
• Be designed to accommodate for people that cost more to care for;
• Provide enrollees the power to vote with their feet and switch out of a health plan that doesn’t meet their needs.

Sign a letter for us to take with us.  Here is how:

1. Download and sign this letter with your name and address.
2. Fax it to (317) 917-0752, or
3. Scan it and email it back to info@centralindianajwj.org, or
4. send us an email telling us to put your name on the bottom of a form letter, or

Call Senator Bayh's office and talk to his staff yourself:  1-888-436-8427.

Media Advisory

Final Report

Press Release

August 8, 2008

Last month, Health Care for America Now (HCAN), an unprecedented coalition of major organizations including labor unions, large community-based membership groups, women’s groups, doctors, nurses, small businesses, and leading netroots activists, will luanched a new $40 million campaign to push for quality, affordable health care for every American.

The campaign has announced that Central Indiana Jobs with Justice, a local coalition of labor, community, religious and student groups, will be the lead organization in Indiana

Amazingly, Indiana has become an important battle ground in upcoming congressional elections and for future health care policy reform efforts.  The Indiana HCAN rollout will be organizing voters all across the state, with a special emphasis in the 8^th and 9^th Congressional districts.

Organizers, health care advocates, policy makers and health care consumers will challenge elected officials to take a position on HCAN’s “Which Side Are You On?” statement which offers two options for health care reform in 2009:  reform which includes a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for everyone along with a choice of public or private insurance plans; or reform that turns over more power and higher profits to health insurance companies and trusts the insurance market to fix the broken health care system. 

The Indiana HCAN coalition includes local representatives from the national steering committee, that consists of ACORN, AFSCME, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn, NEA, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, UFCW, and USAction.

Do you have a story about your experience with the insurance companies?  Did you have insurance but run into trouble because it did not cover all of the costs?  Were you denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition?  Share your story with us.

hcanindiana@centralindianajwj.org