HealthCareForAmericaNow

Health Care for America Now (HCAN) sent the candidates in New Hampshire’s Senate race 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 Senator John Sununu did not respond to requests sent to his Congressional and campaign offices. Democratic Candidate, former New Hamphire Governor Jeanne Shaheen responded with a letter committing to the principles of quality, affordable health care for all and expressing her opposition to policies that would push people into unregulated private insurance. 

So, where do the candidates for New Hampshire's Senate seat stand on health care and why?

 

Compare the candidates' plans:

Jeanne Shaheen		John Sununu
Shaheen’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. Sununu 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 proposals that virtually eliminate the ability of states to have strong health insurance protections for consumers and patients..

 

Since Senator Sununu did not reply, we looked at his record, and it became very clear why he did not answer our simple question. As the current Senator of New Hampshire, 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.
 
John Sununu has been consistently on the side of the special interests of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. He has voted against 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.

 

John Sununu's record on health care:

Issue	John Sununu's Record
Will He Make Health Care Affordable?	Voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices. Co-sponsored a bill that expands Health Savings Accounts which burden individuals with high health care costs. Voted to cut $16 billion over ten years from Medicaid by increasing co-pays and premiums for low-income people while allowing states to offer fewer benefits.
Will He Make Sure You Are Covered for All Necessary Benefits?	Co-sponsored a bill 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 a bill that virtually eliminates the ability of states to have strong health insurance protections for consumers and patients.

 

Click here for a detailed report on John Sununu'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 Shaheen and Sununu campaigns.

Email John Sununu and tell him to support quality, affordable health care for all

Email Jeanne Shaheen and thank her for supporting quality, affordable health care for all