Tour Blog

Action!.

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:35:00 GMT

In Spokane, SEIU'ers joined with our HCAN partner Washington CAN! for an action at health insurer Premera Blue Cross -- seeking greater transparency into the firm's finances and rejection rates. TV crews were on hand as Will Pittz, executive director of Washington CAN!, presented a list of questions, prompting a company executive to come down to the lobby to try to answer them.

"I'm so glad we did that!" said Paula Hall, a child care worker from Spokane and member of SEIU Local 925. "The way I see it, health insurance companies are answering to their shareholders, so they focus more on profits than on patient care. This has to change."

Taking the long view.

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:34:00 GMT

"This bus has been on the road now for 74 years actually," said U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, at an event in Seattle. "In 1935, Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted to have universal health care for this country. It was part of the Social Security Act in 1935. The people who defeated it were organized medicine and the insurance industry. Big surprise, right? And, actually, organized labor wasn't very hot on it at that point.

"Now we've come down the road and a lot of people have tried it again and again, but we are going to have a national health care plan in 2009. A lot of things are coming together that are going to make this thing happen."

Moms against McCain.

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:32:00 GMT

Coloring books? Check. Cookies and juice boxes? Check. The Road to Health Care joined with Oregonians for Health Security in hosting a roundtable on women's health in Portland on Aug. 8 -- complete with activities for children and action steps for grown-ups.

"It is ridiculous that insurance companies are able to refuse people due to pre-existing diseases," said Judith Auslander, as she told the group about her struggle to get health care. A complication during childbirth more than 30 years ago led to chronic illness, and she is now categorized as having a pre-existing condition and can't get private insurance. "I've looked through the candidates' plans, and I'm very disappointed to see that John McCain would do nothing to stop health insurance companies from taking advantage of people such as myself."

Insuring health or ensuring profit?.

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:09:00 GMT

SEIU in August launched a nationwide series of actions questioning health insurance industry tactics -- with the big purple bus playing its part. The bus pulled up to the state capitol building in Salem for a press conference with our HCAN partner Oregon Action that presented evidence that the industry is using deliberate tactics designed to maximize profits by raising premiums, co-pays and deductibles; refusing coverage or charging exorbitant rates to people with pre-existing conditions; and even retroactively denying coverage to people with insurance. See the full report "Insuring Health or Ensuring Profit?" at nwfco.org.

Nevada looks to November.

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:30:00 GMT

"Nevada has seen what happens when unscrupulous clinics and hospitals put profits ahead of patients," said Shauna Hamel, RN and SEIU Nevada president, at a press event just off the Vegas strip. "SEIU Nevada members are committed to continuing to raise health care standards here in our hospitals, through our local Southern Nevada Health District, and in the election in November."

To drive the point home, SEIU member Sharon Kisling brought along her 18-year-old son Jashaun -- a first-time voter this historic year. "Like me, he is a health care voter," she said. "We are calling on all Nevadans to join us in voting for change we can believe in -- change, finally, to our health care system."

Under the Arizona sun.

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:29:00 GMT

In Tucson, the bus tour set up a canopy in the city's Main Library Plaza, inviting passers-by to take shelter from the desert sun -- and listen as SEIU members joined with elected officials to talk about the health care crisis.

"A lot of folks are hurting. One of the last things folks need is continued increases in health care premiums, co-pays and deductibles -- but that's what's happening," said Dave Mitchell, president of SEIU Arizona's Pima County chapter.

"People are skimping on preventative care because they can't afford it, or they delay going to the doctor. We've become a nation of the walking wounded."

"Straight talk" in Albuquerque.

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:27:00 GMT

From Missouri, the bus traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where -- coincidentally -- Sen. John McCain was also making a campaign stop. In the hubbub outside McCain's event, his Straight Talk Express bus pulled up right next to the Road to Health Care bus, allowing SEIU members to push our health care message directly to the traveling press.

At our event the next day, school nurse Judy Edwards talked about how more and more working families can't afford the rising cost of health care. "I see children who get sick over the weekend and wait until Monday to see me, the school nurse, because they don't have health insurance or they don't have enough health insurance."

More veterans criticize McCain.

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:56:00 GMT

Think war hero John McCain has the veterans' vote sewn up? Think again.

For the second time this summer, the Road to Health Care bus tour held a special event for veterans critical of Sen. McCain's record of voting against fully funding the VA.

And for the second time, veterans scored a media coup.

This time it was Springfield, Missouri, where veterans from Iraq, Korea, Vietnam and even World War II spoke out against McCain's consistent record of denying funds for vets' health care.

"If we're going to send our soldiers to war, and we're going to spend billions of dollars a day on a war, then we need to care of the soldiers who go and fight that war," said Akeam Ashford, an Iraq war veteran and Missouri State University student.

McCain's voting record on the issue is "downright wrong," he added.
The facts: Sen. McCain voted against full funding for veterans' health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He's even proposing to dismantle the VA by outsourcing care.

"I'm really disappointed in Sen. McCain," said veteran Jack Hembree, warning that a McCain presidency could mean the end of VA health care -- or the end of America's promise to care for our veterans.

Health Care for America Now!.

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:54:00 GMT

With the election approaching fast, the purple bus is teaming up with Health Care for America Now (HCAN), an unprecedented national coalition that is seeking quality, affordable health care for all.

On July 8, the coalition hosted launch events in 52 cities -- including Jefferson City, Missouri, where the Road to American Health Care and SEIU joined HCAN allies at a press conference at the state capitol.

Want better and more affordable health insurance? Want to limit insurance companies' greed? If so, join us. Learn more at: http://healthcareforamericanow.com/

"How about throwing me some health insurance".

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:53:00 GMT

One day, two parades: The purple bus joined July 4 parades in West Des Moines and Coralville, Iowa, as SEIU staffers handed out candy, little first-aid kits, stickers, pins, sign-up cards -- if it wasn't tied down, it went out the door.

Along the route, kids shouted for candy -- and above the din came the best quote of the day: "Hey, how about throwing me some health insurance!"