Addressing the Health Care Crisis

The healthcare situation in America today is a disaster.  Millions have no insurance and millions more are underinsured.  The system relies too much on the private sector where making a profit is the only goal, without regard for the health care needs of millions.  All too often, hospitals and doctors decide whom to treat based on who can pay.  In the U.S. today, treating the sick has become a money making scheme.

Also, costs for healthcare are skyrocketing out of control.  Double-digit percentage insurance increases occurring yearly.  As these premiums increase, more and more employers feel it necessary to force more of the costs onto employees, effectively shrinking their paychecks and often causing them to opt out of or reduce coverage when they feel they can no longer afford to pay.  A few are getting rich while millions suffer. 

In addition, health maintenance today relies more on prescription medicine than ever before.  Companies that manufacture prescription drugs are making billions of dollars while thousandsns are cutting needed medication or going without it because they cannot afford the extravagant prices being charged. Meanwhile, prescription drugs in Canada and Mexico sell for as much as 70% less and many retirees are even traveling to Canada to purchase needed medicine. Shockingly, many are even forced to decide whether to buy food or medicine.

To address the Health Care Crisis the USW has launched an initiative to establish a "Health Care Bill of Rights for all Americans" as the governing principles for public policy on health care. The principles nicludes Universal Coverage, Cost Control and Prescription Drug Coverage.