Help Pass Health Care Reform: Write a Letter to the Editor

Winning the fight for real health care reform won’t be easy and we can’t back down. As you probably know, opponents of health care reform are using scare tactics to distort, exaggerate and outright lie about President Obama’s plan for health care reform.

You can help get the truth out by writing a letter to the editor of your local paper.

Here are some talking points to help you get started… but the most powerful message is your personal story about health care. What have you or a family member or friend experienced? Why do you believe we can’t wait another year, another decade, or another generation for real health care reform?  

Step 1 - Select a Recipient

Letter to the Editor

The Letter to the Editor Section is one of the most widely read sections of the newspaper and can reach a large audience. It allows community members to comment on the way issues are being addressed in the media and to influence the topics the local paper may choose to cover. Elected officials often monitor this section of the newspaper and take notice of constituents' opinions.

We've made it easy for you to contact your local newspaper with your views, but editors want to hear from you in your own words.

Look for papers within miles of zip code

Step 2 - Write your message





Click on a point to add it to the letter.
  • Our health care system is broken, and American families and businesses urgently need a solution. Not having health insurance bears devastating consequences. For example: children born to black women are more than twice as likely to die within their first year of life than children born to white women; people of color are more likely to suffer and die from diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases; and uninsured Americans are more likely to use the Emergency Room for preventative care and routine checkups, forcing longer wait times and costing states and taxpayers more.

  • Real health care reform must include a strong public option that provides a choice for low cost, basic coverage and creates honest competition for private insurers.

  • Real health care reform must provide full health care coverage that is affordable to every individual, family and business and covers all pre-existing conditions.

  • Real health care reform must contain standard, comprehensive health care benefits that meet everyone’s needs from preventive to chronic care.

  • Real health care reform must provide individuals with the choice of a private or public health care plan, which includes a new public health care plan that will provide a guaranteed backup which will always be there to ensure quality, affordable health care coverage no matter what.

  • Real health care reform must ensure equity in health care access, treatment, research, and resources to people and communities of color and stronger health services in low-income communities.

  • Congress must pass real health care reform in 2009.