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CCHCC E-Mail Newsletter – October 2009
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1. Campaign & Program Updates
2. Health Action Network
3. Ask an Advocate
4. Upcoming Meetings & Events
5. Support CCHCC
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Dear Friends,
Welcome! Thank you for reading the Champaign County Health Care Consumers
(CCHCC) E-mail Newsletter. The goal of the CCHCC E-mail Newsletter is to keep you up-to-date on CCHCC campaigns and activities, and let you know of ways to support health care justice in your very own community.
Have any feedback for the CCHCC E-mail Newsletter? Want more information on a certain campaign or program? Have a question for “Ask the Advocate?” Email Allison with feedback on the newsletter at allison@HealthCareconsumers.org.
1. CAMPAIGN & PROGRAM UPDATES
— Health Care Access Task Force:
On September 10, 2009, the Health Care Access Task Force hosted an extremely successful Community Meeting on National Health Reform at the Champaign Public Library. Nearly 150 community members turned out for this important meeting and heard discussion on the need for national health reform, health reform myths, Medicare and national health reform, and how regular people can take action on real health reform. Visit the website to download documents from the meeting, see photos, and check out the media coverage.
http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Display-Page&id=708
— 5th & Hill Neighborhood Rights Campaign:
The 5th & Hill Neighborhood Rights Campaign has been working on protecting the health of the neighborhood and the rights of the community in relation to the toxic site owned by Ameren, located at 5th and Hill Streets in Champaign. Want to get more involved in the campaign? Add your name to the mailing list today!
http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Display-Page&id=562
— Medicare Task Force:
The Medicare Task Force continues to work hard on fixing the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Although only people with Medicare are eligible for Medicare Part D, this inefficient program is a problem for ALL taxpayers. Read this Medicare Task Force produced fact sheet to learn more:
http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Display-Page&id=667
2. HEALTH ACTION NETWORK – TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Champaign County Health Care Consumers needs your support in the struggle for REAL health reform. One key component to national health reform must be strong regulation of private insurance companies, and consumer protections.
Private health insurance companies must be regulated to prohibit them from their current practices of:
* discriminating based on gender;
* denying coverage for pre-existing conditions;
* dropping or rescinding coverage for sick consumers;
* and applying annual or lifetime benefit limits.
Private health insurance companies must be regulated so that:
* there are standards for what benefits must be provided;
* everyone is guaranteed coverage;
* and coverage is renewable.
We must demand that Congress include these much needed regulations and protections in the final legislation! Email Allison at allison@HealthCareconsumers.org and let us know you would like your name added to our letter to elected officials demanding strong insurance company regulations and consumer protections. Take action today!
3. ASK AN ADVOCATE
By Mark Laughlin – CCHCC Hotline Advocate
Question: I need help affording vision care – are there any programs that could help me?
Answer: There are a number of services available in Champaign County for low cost vision services. The Champaign County Lions Club can provide one-time financial assistance towards eye exams and eye glasses to those who qualify.
Call (217) 352-6300 for more information.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District runs a Vision Cooperative in conjunction with Wal-Mart. People are screened through CUPHD and then set up for an appointment for an eye exam at Wal-mart. There is only a $2 co-pay.
Call (217) 531-2925 for more details.
For Medicaid beneficiaries, the following vision service locations accept Medicaid insurance:
The Eye Center, Champaign – (217) 352-2020 Bard Optical, Champaign – (217) 351-8822 Wal-Mart, Rantoul – (217) 892-5095
Finally, the Gift of Sight Program offers free eyeglasses to low-income uninsured individuals. Clients must be referred by a local agency, so pleases call CCHCC’s Consumer Health Hotline at (217) 352-6533 for this program, or any other health care question.
4. UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
— Attend the next Health Care Access Task Force meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the CCHCC office (44 East Main, Suite 208, downtown Champaign). The Health Care Access Task Force meets each month to work on health care access in our community. We’d love to see you there!
Call us at(217) 352-6533 with questions or to RSVP.
5. SUPPORT CCHCC
Support CCHCC through workplace giving! Does your workplace offer Community Shares of Illinois? Need help starting a workplace giving campaign in your office? Visit our website for more information:
http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Get-Page&pageType=more
Or to make a donation directly to CCHCC, visit:
www.HealthCareconsumers.org/donation