November 7, 2009

Contact: Kristen Bossi

(202) 225-4476

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) cast a vote in favor of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.  Murphy has heard from constituents across the Fifth District including at public events in Waterbury, Danbury, Meriden, Simsbury, Avon and Washington, Connecticut over the last few months and has met with and heard from constituents throughout the year on the state of our health care system.  He cast his vote to make health insurance more affordable and accessible to all Connecticut residents and businesses - those who currently have insurance and those who don't. 

"Every night in this country, thousands of children go to sleep, sick in their bed because their mother couldn't afford to get them to the doctor.  And every day, thousands more families file for bankruptcy, losing everything they own, because their loved one got sick and they couldn't afford the bills anymore.  This is the most affluent, compassionate nation in the world, and it makes no sense that our health care system leaves so many behind.  This bill starts the process of fixing it, for people in Connecticut and across the country," said Murphy.

As a current member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health care, and the former Chairman of the Connecticut legislature's Public Health Committee, Murphy has become one of Congress' leading voices for health care reform.

Affordable health insurance is slipping from the grasps of too many Connecticut residents.  This summer, Connecticut's biggest insurer announced that it was increasing rates for individuals by over 30%.  And a recent report by Families USA found that 28,100 Connecticut residents will lose their health coverage in 2009 as a result of losing their jobs.  By the end of the year, Connecticut will be home to 303,000 uninsured adults, an increase of ten percent in just one year.

            The Affordable Health Care for America Act:

• reforms insurance law to stop discrimination based on pre-existing conditions;
• ends the practice of patients losing their insurance if they get too sick;
• provides tax credits for businesses that provide health insurance coverage to their employees;
• strengthens Medicare by beginning to close the prescription drug donut hole immediately, cutting co-payments for preventive services, and slashing waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare system; and
• reduces the deficit while covering 96% of Americans.

"By fixing the rules of the private health care marketplace, this bill allows small businesses to band together to bargain for lower prices, and give people tax credits to help them pay for insurance.  Our health care system can be fixed by simply making our private system of care work for consumers," said Murphy.

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