Healthcare Activists Plan June 19th As National Day Of Action Against Health Insurance Companies, California

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 22 May 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Thousands to Gather in San Francisco and Around Country as 38,000 Insurance Industry Executives Meet for Annual AHIP Convention

Nurses, Doctors, Patients, Consumer Activists Call for Guaranteed, Single-Payer Healthcare-"Patients Not Profits"

Seeking an end to the healthcare crisis that is destroying American lives and families, thousands of healthcare activists will descend on San Francisco and on cities around the country this June 19th as part of an unprecedented national day of protests against health insurance corporations-and in support of guaranteed, single-payer healthcare, the "Medicare for All" system succeeding in nearly every other industrialized democracy. The protests will demand a healthcare system focused on patients, not profits, and are being coordinated by the Leadership Conference on Guaranteed Healthcare, a coalition group representing hundreds of thousands of members. Learn more at http://www.GuaranteedHealthcare.org.

The national day of action is timed in conjunction with the annual convention of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the insurance industry lobbying group dedicated to blocking healthcare reform. Cities that headquarter major health insurance companies will host local actions as part of the national day of protest. Activists are planning events in Chicago, the base of Blue Cross/Blue Shield; Philadelphia, base of CIGNA; Hartford, base of AETNA; Louisville, KY, base of Humana; Minnetonka, MN, base of United Health Group, and elsewhere. More information can be found on regional protests at http://www.Healthcare-Now.org.

What: Thousands Protest Insurance Companies
in San Francisco, nationwide
When: Thursday, June 19th, 12 Noon
Where: San Francisco, CA-4th St. @ Howard St.

The Leadership Conference on Guaranteed Healthcare is composed of California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), Physicians for a National Health Program, Healthcare Now!, and Progressive Democrats of America, working in coalition with the California School Employees Association, the American Medical Students Association, the California Universal Healthcare Organizing Project, the Courage Campaign, United Educators San Francisco, AFT 2121-4, and Senior Action Network.

Malinda Markowitz, RN, a member of the Council of Presidents of CNA/NNOC said, "We are calling a national protest against these insurance companies because they profit by denying care to our patients-not by providing it. The American people are ready for guaranteed healthcare, through great bills like Rep. John Conyer's HR 676, and we will no longer let insurers and politicians block progress and maintain an unworkable status quo."

California Nurses Association