HealthCareForAmericaNow

Health Care for America Now (HCAN) sent the candidates in the race for Florida’s 8th Congressional District a sign-on form asking, “Which Side Are You On.” Are they on the side in support of quality, affordable health care we all can count on? Or are they on the side that advocates leaving us alone to fend for ourselves in the complicated, unregulated insurance market? Republican Congressman Ric Keller did not respond to requests sent to his Congressional and campaign offices. Democratic Candidate Alan Grayson sent HCAN a sign-on saying that he is committed to quality, affordable health care for all.

So, where do the candidates for Florida's 8th District stand on health care and why?

 

Compare the candidates' plans:

Alan Grayson		Ric Keller
Supports a plan to provide quality, affordable health care for all.	Does it cover everyone?	Voted against legislation to expand health coverage to 10 million more children.
Grayson’s plan controls out-of-pocket costs based on a family’s ability to pay.	Is it affordable for our families?	Supports health savings accounts with deductibles as high as $10,000.
Has committed to standard, comprehensive benefits that meet our families’ health care needs.	Will the plan meet our families’ needs?	Unknown. Keller refused to commit to a plan with comprehensive benefits.
Supports rules that require insurance companies to put people before profits.	Are there strong consumer protections?	Sponsored a bill to weaken consumer protections by allowing insurers to bypass state regulations.

 

Since Congressman Keller did not reply, we looked at his record, and it became very clear why he did not answer our simple question. As the current Representative for Florida’s 8th District, his record shows he is on “the other side”—the side of leaving us alone to fend for ourselves in the complicated, unregulated insurance market.

Ric Keller has been consistently on the side of the special interests of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. He has voted against expanding coverage to children and bringing down drug costs for seniors by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with manufacturers. He voted for a bill that virtually eliminates the ability of states to regulate health insurance practices, and he supports Health Savings Accounts which shift the risk of health care costs from insurance companies on to individuals and families.

 

Ric Keller's record on health care:

Issue	Ric Keller's Record
Will He Guarantee Coverage for All?	Voted against the SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) reauthorization and expansion bill that would have covered 10 million children in America at the cost of $35 billion, mostly paid for by an increase in tobacco taxes.
Will He Make Health Care Affordable?	Voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices. Co-sponsored and voted for bills that created Health Savings Accounts which burden individuals with high health care costs.
Will He Make Sure You Are Covered for All Necessary Benefits?	Co-sponsored and voted for bills that would allow insurers to drop important benefits mandated in different states.
Will He Make Sure You Are Protected from Insurance Company Bad Practices?	Co-sponsored bills that virtually eliminate the ability of states to have strong health insurance protections for consumers and patients.

 

Click here for a detailed report on Congressman Ric Keller's record on health care. [pdf]

 

Take Action

Take action and tell these two candidates to support quality, affordable health care for all. Click below to email the Keller and Grayson campaigns.

Email Ric Keller and tell him to support quality, affordable health care for all

Email Alan Grayson and thank him for supporting quality, affordable health care for all