HEALTH CARE FIGHT: Progress Michigan Challenges Legislators on New Law

Tea Party Rally Set Oct. 10 in Lansing to Oppose Obamacare

September 19, 2013
By: Dave Rogers

Protect Your Care Michigan and other allied organizations hosted a teleconference today asking Michigan's Congressional Delegation if they are going to help their constituents access their health care benefits or stand with Tea Party extremists.

Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan said:

"The Republicans endless attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would take away the benefits that millions of people are currently receiving and the many more that are already being signed up for at www.healthcare.gov.

The Lansing Tea Party, now known as Grassroots Michigan, has scheduled a rally Sunday Oct. 10 at the State Capitol at 1 p.m. to solidify opposition to the ACA on grounds it is a violation of the Tenth Amendment, asserting it is an overreach of federal authority.

The full text of the Progress Michigan letter is as follows:

"As you know, with the passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the primary means from which people in Michigan who lack health insurance are be able to obtain coverage is through the Health Insurance Marketplace Exchange.

"The purpose of the Marketplace Exchange is to create a 'one stop shopping location' where uninsured people can go to compare various insurance options being offered.

Thirteen health insurance companies have agreed to sell policies on the Marketplace Exchange in Michigan. By making it convenient for people to compare the different policies that are being offered and by requiring the policies to be described in normal every day language, a true competitive market for insurance should be created that will drive down the cost of the policies."

The letter to Members of Congress continued:

"It is projected by Health and Human Services that 14 percent of the population of Michigan -- or 1,145,489 uninsured Michiganders -- will be eligible for coverage through the Marketplace Exchange. These uninsured individuals live across every part of Michigan -- including your district.

"One challenge that exists is that many of the people that lack insurance and are eligible to obtain insurance through the Marketplace Exchange, either with the help of the Federal tax credit or through the expanded Medicaid program, don't understand the new law or don't know how to begin the process of working through this Marketplace Exchange."

The enrollment for this Marketplace Exchange begins on October 1 and runs for six months.