HealthCareForAmericaNow

Health Care for America Now (HCAN) sent the candidates in the race for Missouri’s 9th 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 call can count on? Or are they on the side that advocates leaving us alone to fend for ourselves in the complicated, unregulated insurance market? The Republican candidate Blaine Luetkemeyer did not respond to requests sent to his campaign offices. Democratic Candidate Judy Baker sent HCAN a sign-on saying that she is committed to quality, affordable health care for all. 

So, where do the candidates for Illinois' 11th District stand on health care and why?

 

Compare the candidates' plans:

Judy Baker		Blaine Luetkemeyer
Supports a plan to provide quality, affordable health care for all.	Does it cover everyone?	Supports insurance tax credits that will cover only a fraction of our health care costs.
Halvorson’s plan controls out-of-pocket costs based on a family’s ability to pay.	Is it affordable for our families?	Favors 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. Luetkemeyer 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?	Supports “market” reforms that would do nothing to stop abusive insurance company practices.

 

Since Mr. Luetkemeyer did not reply, we looked at his policies, and it became very clear why he did not answer our simple question. His policies put him squarely on “the other side”—the side of leaving us alone to fend for ourselves in the complicated, unregulated insurance market.

Blaine Luetkemeyer’s positions are on the side of the special interests of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. He has said he would have voted against expanding coverage to children and has refused to take a stand on whether he would allow Medicare to negotiate prices with manufacturers. He is in favor of virtually eliminating 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 onto individuals and families.

 

Blain Luetkemeyer's record on health care:

Issue	Blaine Luetkemeyer's Record
Will He Guarantee Coverage for All?	Said he was 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?	Has come out firmly in favor of Health Savings Accounts which burden individuals with high health care costs. Has refused to take a stand on whether he would allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices.
Will He Make Sure You Are Covered for All Necessary Benefits?	Supports reform proposals that would allow insurers to drop important benefits mandated in different states.
Will He Make Sure You Are Protected from Insurance Company Bad Practices?	Supports reform proposals that virtually eliminate the ability of states to have strong health insurance protections for consumers and patients.

 

Click here for a detailed report on Blaine Luetkemeyer'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 Baker and Luetkemeyer campaigns.

Email Blaine Luetkemeyer and tell him to support quality, affordable health care for all

Email Judy Baker and thank her for supporting quality, affordable health care for all