Healthcare and bankruptcy: Gimme shelter

The facts are brutal and show a direct tie between the impact of medical expenses on American families trying to keep a roof over their heads. According to the New York Times in 2009, 2 out of every 3 bankruptcies stemmed from medical bills. During this daunting economic era, foreclosures are at an all-time high. According to the latest stats from RealtyTrac, 1 in every 563 housing units in the country received a foreclosure filing in October 2011. What can you do about it? Plenty.

Put Your Legislative Representative to Work on Your Agenda

For folks unfamiliar with demanding change, sometimes all you need is a model or a handy toolkit to get going. Consider the following examples  as your own starter kit. Included in this action pack is a letter you can use as an email or snail mail missive to your Congressional representative to ask them to begin forgiving the mortgage debt of Americans who are under water due to medical bills. You can demand that universal health coverage be provided to every American—an early goal of Medicare. You can demand that they address healthcare disparities. Most of all, you can request that they reply to you with updates on how they are accomplishing your wish list. Remember, they work for you. If you’re not sure who your representative is, go to Congress.Org  to search by zip code.

Sample Letter:

To the Honorable Congressperson ______:

What with all the Washington insider bickering, you’d think we average Americans were on tenterhooks about who insulted who in the latest political gossip. We’re not. I, for one, would appreciate your focus on providing real relief to families facing foreclosure, many of whom have enormous medical bills and many more who have lost their jobs in this economy. Knowing how closely healthcare and fiscal solvency are tied together, I encourage you to advance policies that would bring real universal healthcare access/coverage to Americans. Expanding Medicare could accomplish that. Furthermore, I want you to dedicate yourself to closing disparities in healthcare access in the country, particularly among the most vulnerable such as children, the poor and the elderly. Most importantly, I am requesting that you keep me apprised on what progress you make on each of this initiatives. As the next election year approaches, I will be reviewing your performance and look forward to sharing your achievements in this area with my neighbors. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Assert Your Media Muscle in Support of #OccupyHealthcare

Just as you should flex your political power among those who represent you, there is another target for your attention: the media. How many times have you heard some stupid or unimportant story that is labeled as “news,” but couldn’t be further from the truth? Instead of having media firms dictate what should be broadcast, it is time for us to set the agenda. If you want to contact your local programming directors on TV, newspaper or radio, do a Google search for your local station or newspaper, then scroll down on the webpage for a Contact Us link—this typically brings you to a web form that allows you to send a message. So let’s start calling the shots. We are the 99%.

Sample Letter:

Dear Editor/Programming Director:

While reports about the Kardashians might hold value for some, this sort of topic doesn’t resonate or appeal to most Americans who are facing daunting choices in their lives. Decisions like whether to go without medication or pay rent, or whether to postpone a visit to the doctor for lack of medical insurance. These are the stories we want our local media to focus on because we depend on your coverage to inform our lives and to help us form a more representative democracy. Please let me know how you’ll be changing your programming in the upcoming weeks to educate and illuminate our community about health care disparities, lack of access of good health care, and what policymakers are aiming to do about such vital issues. Thanks for your consideration.

Sources for the graphic poster:

[1] Tara Parker-Pope, Medical Bills Cause Most Bankruptcies, New York Times, June 4, 2009, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/medical-bills-cause-most-bankruptcies/

[1] U.S. Foreclosure Activity Increases 7 % in August, Defaults Surge 33%, RealtyTrac, Sept. 13, 2011  http://www.realtytrac.com/content/press-releases/august-2011-us-foreclosure-market-report-6836

[1] Shift in National Priorities Keeps Us Poor and Sick, Roknich, Nov.9, 2011, http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/11/09/18698494.php