|
|
|
Media Release |
||
| For Immediate Release | Contact | Phone |
| February 23, 2009 | Leo Torrey, NJ Citizen Action |
856-966-3091 |
New Jersey Health Care for America Now Releases New Report: "NEXT STEP: HEALTH CARE — To Fix New Jersey's Economy, We Need To Fix Health Care Now"
"NEXT STEP: Health Care" details why we cannot Solve New Jersey's Economic and Fiscal Crisis without National Health Care Reform in 2009.
Camden, NJ — On Monday, February 23, 2009 at 11:30 am NJ Citizen Action, the NJ Health Care For America Now (HCAN) Campaign, Rutgers AAUP-AFT, the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, New Jersey SEIU and the Health Professionals and Allied Employees released a new report, "NEXT STEP: Health Care" (link to complete report), detailing why we can't get New Jersey's economy moving again if we don't fix health care now. The report confirms that comprehensive, national health care reform is the only way to get New Jersey back on track. The report release will coincide with similar events across the country, coordinated by Health Care for America Now (HCAN) — a national grassroots campaign of more than 700 organizations representing 30 million people dedicated to winning quality, affordable health care we all can count on in 2009.
"NEXT STEP: Health Care" lays out exactly how skyrocketing health care costs are busting New Jersey's state and local government budgets, crippling businesses, and making it hard for families to afford the health care they need and make ends meet. New Jersey simply cannot afford the current system and its crushing impact on our economy.
"We cannot get New Jersey's economy moving again if we don't fix health care now," said Leo Torrey, Organizer from New Jersey Citizen Action. "The health care provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are a good first step, but in order to truly get New Jersey back on track we need comprehensive, national health care reform, and we need it now. Current health care costs are unsustainable, and we just cannot afford to wait anymore."
- From 2000 to 2007, health insurance premiums in New Jersey increased by more than 71% while median yearly wages increased only 15%.
- New Jersey's median yearly wage in 2007 was only $36,700, but the average health care premium for a family was $12,979.
- In 2008, the average premium for family coverage in New Jersey was $14,401. By 2016, that number is expected to be more than $25,000.
Health Care for America Now and its principles for reform are supported by President Obama and more than 180 Members of Congress including NJ Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg and NJ Congressmen Robert Andrews, Frank LoBiondo, John Adler, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Steven Rothman, Donald Payne, Rush Holt and Albio Sires. HCAN is comprised of doctors, nurses, community organizations, small business owners, faith-based groups, people of color, seniors, children's and women's rights groups, and labor unions fighting to win quality, affordable health care we all can count on in 2009.
###
