SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY HEALTH CARE

June 21, 2004
Press Release

JUNE 21, 2004

SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY -
HEALTH CARE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued "The Bush Administration Misstatement of the Day" on health care.

The Washington Post reported on June 15, 2004:

[President] Bush reiterated that he was willing to expand an enormous federal entitlement only by relying on private health plans and companies that manage pharmacy benefits. "One of the things I believe is that markets have got a fantastic way of rewarding people with better quality and better price," he said.


However, hundreds of people who rallied in Chicago on Saturday, June 19 for universal health care, along with thousands of others across the country, disagreed with President Bush's assessment about the effectiveness of the private market. Under the current system:

  • 43.6 million children and adults under the age of 65 were uninsured for the entire year in 202. The 2.4 million increase between 2001 and 2002 was the largest in a decade.
  • A Families USA study released this month revealed that 81.8 million people were uninsured at some point in 2002 and 2003. Two-thirds of them were uninsured for 6 months or more.
  • In Illinois, 3.5 million people were uninsured during 2002 and 2003 - 31.5% or nearly 1 in 3 of every non-elderly person in our state. 2.2 million were uninsured for at least 6 months.
  • 8 in 10 of the uninsured live in working families
  • 24% of whites, 43% of blacks, 60% of Hispanics uninsured during the period
  • The cost of uninsurance is estimated at 18,000 unnecessary deaths and up to $130 billion in unnecessary costs each year.
  • 29% of people who were insured all year long - 3 in 10 -- reported that they did not get the medical care they needed because they couldn't afford it.
  • 41% of Americans have problems paying their medical debt. 62% of those bills were incurred for a person or family member who was fully insured.
  • Premiums in 2002 went up 6 times faster than inflation, 4 times faster than wages. Employers are increasing cost-sharing and high deductible plans -- $1,000, $2,000 or more.


Healthcare rally held in Lincoln Park -- WLS ABC TV Chicago

June 20, 2004 - A huge healthcare rally was held in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood this weekend. The theme was 'Bridge The Gap -- Healthcare For All.'
The speakers included the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Senator Miguel Del Valle. They oppose high health care costs and called for access to quality, affordable coverage.
Former Vermont governor and onetime democratic presidential candidate -- Howard Dean -- also spoke to the crowd.
"Then the United States of America, the most powerful and wealthy country on the face of the earth, ought to be able to join the British, the French, the Germans, the Japanese, the Irish, the Canadians, the Italians, the Israelis, the Dutch, the Danes, the Swedes, the Norwegians -- even in Costa Rica they have health insurance for all their people and so should we," said Howard Dean.
Thousands joined other 'Bridge The Gap' rallies in 132 other cities across the U.S.