All posts by National Nurses Movement

Economy

Nurses say: Come Join Us on September 1 on Main Street, Don’t Return to DC

1 Comment

Main Street, USA –  Nurses call their neighbors and  their elected officials  to come to Main Street on September 1, even as many of the elected officials continue chiding one another about returning to DC.

Main Street is where the damage has been done and is being felt most deeply; DC is where deals are cut to protect Wall Street with breath-taking regularity.  This is not a time when political posturing for some distant election cycle by those largely insulated from the harsh financial realities they helped create ought to take precedence over the real-time, real-life needs of millions.

Lives depend on it; jobs depend on it; communities depend on it.  170,000 Registered Nurse members of National Nurses United throughout America have come together to re-build Main Street. We need you on our side.

So, on Thursday, September 1, the nurses of National Nurses United will gather in more than 60 communities from Maine to Texas, and Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, California and beyond to call on the nation’s elected officials to chose to protect and repair Main Street and stop cow-towing to Wall Street.   Find an action on a Main Street near you and join in.

2011-06-22_WallStreet_9881f

We’ll be asking something very specific of our elected officials, and that is not about where or whether or not they take an August or Labor Day vacation.  We want them to pledge their support for those who damaged Main Street so badly to pay to repair it.  Main Street is taxed enough, let’s establish a Wall Street Transaction Tax – it could raise $350 billion to rebuild our country – an amount sufficient enough to make a real difference on Main Street, where the emergency is felt most directly.

The Wall Street Transaction Tax is a sales tax on the stocks, bonds, debt and other trades carried out by the financial industry. That’s the place to start. Imagine a country in which workers have jobs at living wages to reinvest in America, where there is equal access to quality public education and guaranteed healthcare, a secure retirement, good housing, protection from hunger and a safe environment.

That’s the America our nurses not only imagine but, insist must be rebuilt.

   Join us on September 1st. Find an event near you.

   Watch and share our Sept. 1 promo video

   Sign our petition to Congress on Change.org

   On Twitter? Sign our Twitter petition here

Large banks and Wall Street firms wrecked our economy. They wiped out pensions and portfolios. Because of their greed, they threw us into a recession, cost us millions of jobs, and squandered American productivity. Yet nobody has paid the price for this wrongdoing. No one has gone to jail. In fact, they remain some of the most profitable businesses in America, doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in executive bonuses. And they pay some of the lowest tax rates in the country.

The nurses say it’s not time to call anyone back to Washington, D.C., unless and until those elected officials have properly surveyed the damage they wrought on Main Street and have made the commitment to fix that damage.  Even from their various vacation venues, few of the nation’s lawmakers are more than a short distance away from one of the nurses’ September 1 Main Street events.

Find an event near you, ask your elected officials to attend and insist that they pledge to be a part of healing Main Street, and then stay tuned as the nurses keep up the kind of pressure needed to hold those who pledge to keep their promises and those who do not to stand to account.  It’s time for a little reality check – and that won’t happen on Pennsylvania Avenue or on Capital Hill.   It will happen back home on our Main Streets of America.

Uncategorized

Nurses Take On Wall Street

More than a thousand RNs and other activists marched on Wall Street Wednesday, chanting “Wall Street got bailed out! We got sold out!”

They stood on the steps of Federal Hall across from the New York Stock Exchange and held signs – “Take it Back! Tax Wall Street” and “Heal America! Tax Wall Street” – so crowds of curious passersby got the message.  

2011-06-22_WallStreet_9881f

It’s time to make Wall Street high rollers who created our economic crisis pay its fair share.

Hundreds of nurses from across the country gathered in the heart of our nation’s financial center on June 22, an International Day of Action, to make that message crystal clear.    

“It’s time for their shared sacrifice. They haven’t had any of that. They have been making billions and trillions in profit and they are not giving anything back to our community,” said Deborah Burger, RN and member of the National Nurses United Council of Presidents.

2011-06-22_WallStreet_0132f

The protest is part of the National Nurses United’s Main Street Contract for the American People’s campaign, which aims to reclaim an economy with good jobs at living wages, healthcare for all, quality education, good housing, protection from hunger, a safe environment, and a secure retirement for everyone.

The mainstream media is ignoring the real stories — the stories of people suffering from budget cuts, homelessness, and lack of healthcare.

Representatives from other community and labor organizations stood with the nurses Wednesday to show their support.

2011-06-22_WallStreet_9862f

“We are calling for a more fair and just economy,” said Karen Higgins, RN and member National Nurses United Council of Presidents.

That’s why NNU, with the support from dozens of community and labor organizations, such as the AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, and Transport Workers Union Local 100, are calling for a Wall Street tax on financial transactions.

“It’s very American…Just like working people pay taxes on all of their purchases. These corporate speculators who buy and sell and buy and sell our country should pay a minimum tax on that,” NNU executive director RoseAnn DeMoro explained to the crowd. “A very minimum tax could amount to at least $350 billion every year that can go back to our communities and go back to jobs and go back to healthcare.”

Similar events, called by the European Trade Union Confederation, were taking place in 35 other countries in support of a similar tax there. The nurses led the protest in America.

The hour-long rally ended with songs of solidarity.  The nurses and fellow community activists left Wall Street — waving their signs and yelling “This is what democracy looks like!”

Bystanders joined in the chant as the sea of red scrubs moved down the street.

Uncategorized

S915/HR1200 – The Healthcare Wisdom We Can Trust

Today, it is official.  Two amazing and courageous elected officials stood with nurses and patients to introduce legislation that moves beyond the current health reform effort and forward to a healthy system for all.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, and Rep. Jim McDermott, D-WA, have been allies in the cause for decades.  There are not young fellows in terms of legislative or life experience.  

Both stood together to introduce the American Health Security Act of 2011 – single-payer, Medicare for All style coverage that would be administered by the states.  S915 and HR 1200. Sound policy.  Sound thinking.  Perfect timing.  

051011 001

Rep. McDermott (D-WA) on the left and Sen. Sanders (I-VT) on the right.

We can all look at the statistics and the motivations of those who offer the numbers, but these two elected officials stand with us — the patients, the nurses, the workers, the people — as surely as night follows day.  It is rare to see moments when the people’s business intersects with the political moment.  And it is even more rare to see those elected officials who look to the needs of their constituents and the nation and stand up for policy that uplifts – even if some powerful financial interests see things another way.

The work ahead may be daunting, but with advocates like National Nurse United, and co-president Jean Ross, RN, standing in support of AHSA of 2011, S915/HR1200, the path seems navigable, if challenging.  Jean was convincing and committed today as she mentioned her own son and his struggle to secure healthcare in the midst of the current for-profit system that often leaves patients left behind and nurses holding hands and hearts.  “We hear the stories,” said Ross, “We hear what others do not.”

The American Health Security Act is also backed by the AFL-CIO and its 13 million members.  Arlene Holt-Baker, executive vice president, spoke on behalf of the national AFL-CIO at today’s press conference.

051011 012

Jean Ross, RN, NNU co-president

This was not an effort to criticize or condemn the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, said Sanders and McDermott, but the opportunity to move beyond and to finally realize the goal of workers all over this nation to provide healthcare as a basic human right to all.

As a patient and as someone who went broke (though supposedly fully insured), I watched today’s events with a combination of wonder and worry and praise.  I continue to believe – even in the face of all evidence to the contrary – that with the help of the nurses we will achieve healthcare as a human right and we will do so without outright revolution because of lawmakers like Sen. Sanders and Rep. McDermott.  We can do it if we stand together with enough clarity and enough solidarity.  

My worry related more to the wonderful man I married who is in every way my partner in this struggle and who was at the moment of the press conference in consultation about his own most recent health crisis.  Even with full coverage, it is still up to his supplemental insurance carrier to determine if the care his doctor wants to give will be approved.  My worry for him would be so very much different if we would change the motivations from profit first to healthcare first.  The American Health Security Act of 2011 reaches ever closer to that day.

Finally, I stood with labor leaders – and I am not one of their stature – who have worked so hard to advance anything related to healthcare reform and with whom I have sometimes had differences.  But today, we stood as Americans who believe that working class people and our kids and our grandkids deserve the right to healthcare as a human right provided under the social insurance model and not as some privilege granted only to the wealthy and the powerful.

Great day.  A celebration of life.  The American health Security Act of 2011.  

S915/HR1200 – Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Jim McDermott.  We can do this.

Read the AFL-CIO blog

Read about the event in The Nation

Uncategorized

“Wheel of Misfortune”

Vanna White can’t help these “Public Servants” – they’re the 10 worst Governors in the U.S., and they’re unraveling America.

Who called Social Security a “ponzi scheme?”  Which state leader wants to take almost $1 billion from state schools?  Which Governor claimed Mexican immigrants were beheading Americans in the Arizona desert?

Find out. Play the game. Spin the wheel. And share the misfortune with all.

www.GovernorsOfMisfortune.com

wheel_misfortune

Brought to you by National Nurses United.

Uncategorized

@ProtestInTheUSA: from Madison to America…from Workers to All People

Is this the protest that wakes up America and starts the push-back to big business and their anti-human agenda?

National Nurses United, and the California Nurses Association, sure hope so, and we’re doing our part to move that along.  Please join our efforts by following @ProtestInTheUsa, our new national newsline of reports, notices, and videos about specific protests in the USA concerning democracy, healthcare, workers’ rights, and human rights.  @ProtestInTheUSA is starting as a twitter feed, and a hashtag #ProtestInTheUSA, and will be expanded from there.  Find it at www.twitter.com/ProtestInTheUSA.

Already @ProtestInTheUSA is helping document our national wave of protests-the upcoming mass rally of women in New York, the workers protesting in Ohio and Indiana for their rights, indigenous protests in Alaska and nurse protests in California.  We simply have got to find a way to bring all these protests together and amplify each others’ voices.  We’re many people–but one cause.

Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of NNU explained why she’s hopeful for social change and , “With so many families and working people in America in trouble, with the recession, healthcare crisis, staggering disparity in income, and the ongoing corporate chokehold of our economic and political structure, more and more people will be taking to the streets calling for real change.  If you’re not protesting, you’re not paying attention. It’s up to all of us to help spread the fire.”

1. Email Scott Walker-tell him to take a hike; [email protected]

2. Phone him: (608) 266-1212

3. Fax him: (608) 267-7888

4. Follow @ProtestInTheUSA (It will be #FollowFriday, after all)

And in case you missed it, check out Thunderdome: http://twitpic.com/40tax9

Oh,and when America’s nurses lead protests, some in the corporate media actually ask them, “why nurses”?  Karen Higgins, an RN from Massachusetts and co-President of National Nurses United, lays it out: “The answer is simple: it is our professional and ethical obligation.  Our patients, and democracy, are under attack, working people are hurting, and the ability of the RN to provide appropriate levels of care for patients is weakened.  The Code of Ethics for Nursing tells us, ‘The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient…(and) is responsible for articulating nursing values…(and) for shaping social policy.'”

Right now that means doing everything we can to help build and grow this national wave of protests!

Uncategorized

Blue Shield, insurance companies, nurses, California Nurses Association, patients, heal

People power works, and not just in Egypt.

Blue Shield of California today announced a 60-day reprieve in an unconscionable rate hike of up to 59 percent it intends to foist on individuals and families.

The announcement coincided with announced plans by nurses, patients, and consumer advocates who stormed Blue Shield’s posh California corporate headquarters in downtown San Francisco.

Coincidence? That’s what Blue Shield insisted, even though they scurried to get out their press release the same morning they were surrounding their doors with barricades, chains, and security guards to protect their property from families facing bankruptcy with outrageous rate hikes and nurses who care for the collateral damage from insurance abuses.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3462f

The 200 protesters cited Blue Shield’s plan to jack up premiums, new data from the nurses documenting that California insurers deny more than one-fourth of all claims, and also introduced patients who told of the devastating effect of Blue Shield’s actions. They carried placards with the Blue Shield symbol reading, “Blue Shield harms, Blue Shield bankrupts, Blue Shield denies.”

“We are here because this is the scene of corporate crime. The beancounters upstairs don’t sit at the bedside and hold the hands of our patients,” said DeAnn McEwen, RN, co-president of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United which sponsored the spirited protest.

0211_BlueShield_6688
CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro

“It’s not hard to connect the dots here between nurses and patients turning up the heat on Blue Shield’s barricaded doorstep the same day it agrees to a brief reprieve in its egregious rate increase,” said CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro.

“A 60-day delay is a small victory, but it won’t alleviate the pain experienced by patients every day who must endure callous price increases and care denials by an industry that cares more about its bottom line than the patients it purports to serve,” said McEwen.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3436f74/

“Our insurance is completely not worth the price. We pay almost half what we pay for rent.” said Kerry Abukhalaf who brought her son to the rally. “Its just a big rip-off. We may just throw our chances to the wind and find insurance for our son and pay out of pocket for my husband and myself.”

“I’m angry. I find it really unfair that I’m forced to pay an unlimited amount to a private company. Basically, you have to pay the insurance or go away and die. Something has to change,” said Patrick Killelea, contract programmer living in Menlo Park whose rates have increased 73% in past year.

0211_BlueShield_6967

“People always ask me, ‘Why are the nurses doing this?’ The nurses are doing this because they are at ground zero. They see the fall out,” DeMoro said.

“The fact is, Blue Shield, or B.S. as I like to call them, is a poster child for one of the worst insurance companies in America.” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “They want a rate increase of 59% and we don’t even know how much their CEO makes.”

The nurses also presented [http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/entry/california-insurers-deny-26-of-all-claims/ new data showing insurers denied 26 percent of all claims last year]. Since 2002, these seven firms, which account for more than three-fourths of all insurance enrollees in California, have rejected 67.5 million claims.

Among others joining the protest were representatives of the Courage Campaign, Healthcare Now, Physicians for a National Health Program, and the San Francisco Labor Council, along with other seniors, community, and healthcare activists.

“Blue Shield’s announcement today won’t stop protests against Blue Shield or other insurance corporations,” DeMoro said.

“We can learn a lesson from the streets of Egypt and other Arab countries,” DeMoro said. “Public pressure is essential to confront tyranny, whether you are faced with political repression or corporate control of our health. There are lives in the balance. We can’t count on legislators, regulators, courts or the lobbyists. We have to rely on the mobilization of people to stop these insurance abuses and step up the call for genuine reform, expanding Medicare to cover everyone.”

Uncategorized

Blue Shield, insurance companies, nurses, California Nurses Association, patients, heal

People power works, and not just in Egypt.

Blue Shield of California today announced a 60-day reprieve in an unconscionable rate hike of up to 59 percent it intends to foist on individuals and families.

The announcement coincided with announced plans by nurses, patients, and consumer advocates who stormed Blue Shield’s posh California corporate headquarters in downtown San Francisco.

Coincidence? That’s what Blue Shield insisted, even though they scurried to get out their press release the same morning they were surrounding their doors with barricades, chains, and security guards to protect their property from families facing bankruptcy with outrageous rate hikes and nurses who care for the collateral damage from insurance abuses.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3462f

The 200 protesters cited Blue Shield’s plan to jack up premiums, new data from the nurses documenting that California insurers deny more than one-fourth of all claims, and also introduced patients who told of the devastating effect of Blue Shield’s actions. They carried placards with the Blue Shield symbol reading, “Blue Shield harms, Blue Shield bankrupts, Blue Shield denies.”

“We are here because this is the scene of corporate crime. The beancounters upstairs don’t sit at the bedside and hold the hands of our patients,” said DeAnn McEwen, RN, co-president of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United which sponsored the spirited protest.

0211_BlueShield_6688

CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro

“It’s not hard to connect the dots here between nurses and patients turning up the heat on Blue Shield’s barricaded doorstep the same day it agrees to a brief reprieve in its egregious rate increase,” said CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro.

“A 60-day delay is a small victory, but it won’t alleviate the pain experienced by patients every day who must endure callous price increases and care denials by an industry that cares more about its bottom line than the patients it purports to serve,” said McEwen.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3436f74/

“Our insurance is completely not worth the price. We pay almost half what we pay for rent.” said Kerry Abukhalaf who brought her son to the rally. “Its just a big rip-off. We may just throw our chances to the wind and find insurance for our son and pay out of pocket for my husband and myself.”

“I’m angry. I find it really unfair that I’m forced to pay an unlimited amount to a private company. Basically, you have to pay the insurance or go away and die. Something has to change,” said Patrick Killelea, contract programmer living in Menlo Park whose rates have increased 73% in past year.

0211_BlueShield_6967

“People always ask me, ‘Why are the nurses doing this?’ The nurses are doing this because they are at ground zero. They see the fall out,” DeMoro said.

“The fact is, Blue Shield, or B.S. as I like to call them, is a poster child for one of the worst insurance companies in America.” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “They want a rate increase of 59% and we don’t even know how much their CEO makes.”

The nurses also presented new data showing insurers denied 26 percent of all claims last year. Since 2002, these seven firms, which account for more than three-fourths of all insurance enrollees in California, have rejected 67.5 million claims.

Among others joining the protest were representatives of the Courage Campaign, Healthcare Now, Physicians for a National Health Program, and the San Francisco Labor Council, along with other seniors, community, and healthcare activists.

“Blue Shield’s announcement today won’t stop protests against Blue Shield or other insurance corporations,” DeMoro said.

“We can learn a lesson from the streets of Egypt and other Arab countries,” DeMoro said. “Public pressure is essential to confront tyranny, whether you are faced with political repression or corporate control of our health. There are lives in the balance. We can’t count on legislators, regulators, courts or the lobbyists. We have to rely on the mobilization of people to stop these insurance abuses and step up the call for genuine reform, expanding Medicare to cover everyone.”

Uncategorized

Blue Shield, insurance companies, nurses, California Nurses Association, patients, heal

People power works, and not just in Egypt.

Blue Shield of California today announced a 60-day reprieve in an unconscionable rate hike of up to 59 percent it intends to foist on individuals and families.

The announcement coincided with announced plans by nurses, patients, and consumer advocates who stormed Blue Shield’s posh California corporate headquarters in downtown San Francisco.

Coincidence? That’s what Blue Shield insisted, even though they scurried to get out their press release the same morning they were surrounding their doors with barricades, chains, and security guards to protect their property from families facing bankruptcy with outrageous rate hikes and nurses who care for the collateral damage from insurance abuses.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3462f

The 200 protesters cited Blue Shield’s plan to jack up premiums, new data from the nurses documenting that California insurers deny more than one-fourth of all claims, and also introduced patients who told of the devastating effect of Blue Shield’s actions. They carried placards with the Blue Shield symbol reading, “Blue Shield harms, Blue Shield bankrupts, Blue Shield denies.”

“We are here because this is the scene of corporate crime. The beancounters upstairs don’t sit at the bedside and hold the hands of our patients,” said DeAnn McEwen, RN, co-president of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United which sponsored the spirited protest.

0211_BlueShield_6688

CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro

“It’s not hard to connect the dots here between nurses and patients turning up the heat on Blue Shield’s barricaded doorstep the same day it agrees to a brief reprieve in its egregious rate increase,” said CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro.

“A 60-day delay is a small victory, but it won’t alleviate the pain experienced by patients every day who must endure callous price increases and care denials by an industry that cares more about its bottom line than the patients it purports to serve,” said McEwen.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3436f74/

“Our insurance is completely not worth the price. We pay almost half what we pay for rent.” said Kerry Abukhalaf who brought her son to the rally. “Its just a big rip-off. We may just throw our chances to the wind and find insurance for our son and pay out of pocket for my husband and myself.”

“I’m angry. I find it really unfair that I’m forced to pay an unlimited amount to a private company. Basically, you have to pay the insurance or go away and die. Something has to change,” said Patrick Killelea, contract programmer living in Menlo Park whose rates have increased 73% in past year.

0211_BlueShield_6967

“People always ask me, ‘Why are the nurses doing this?’ The nurses are doing this because they are at ground zero. They see the fall out,” DeMoro said.

“The fact is, Blue Shield, or B.S. as I like to call them, is a poster child for one of the worst insurance companies in America.” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “They want a rate increase of 59% and we don’t even know how much their CEO makes.”

The nurses also presented new data showing insurers denied 26 percent of all claims last year. Since 2002, these seven firms, which account for more than three-fourths of all insurance enrollees in California, have rejected 67.5 million claims.

Among others joining the protest were representatives of the Courage Campaign, Healthcare Now, Physicians for a National Health Program, and the San Francisco Labor Council, along with other seniors, community, and healthcare activists.

“Blue Shield’s announcement today won’t stop protests against Blue Shield or other insurance corporations,” DeMoro said.

“We can learn a lesson from the streets of Egypt and other Arab countries,” DeMoro said. “Public pressure is essential to confront tyranny, whether you are faced with political repression or corporate control of our health. There are lives in the balance. We can’t count on legislators, regulators, courts or the lobbyists. We have to rely on the mobilization of people to stop these insurance abuses and step up the call for genuine reform, expanding Medicare to cover everyone.”

Uncategorized

Blue Shield, insurance companies, nurses, California Nurses Association, patients, heal

People power works, and not just in Egypt.

Blue Shield of California today announced a 60-day reprieve in an unconscionable rate hike of up to 59 percent it intends to foist on individuals and families.

The announcement coincided with announced plans by nurses, patients, and consumer advocates who stormed Blue Shield’s posh California corporate headquarters in downtown San Francisco.

Coincidence? That’s what Blue Shield insisted, even though they scurried to get out their press release the same morning they were surrounding their doors with barricades, chains, and security guards to protect their property from families facing bankruptcy with outrageous rate hikes and nurses who care for the collateral damage from insurance abuses.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3462f

The 200 protesters cited Blue Shield’s plan to jack up premiums, new data from the nurses documenting that California insurers deny more than one-fourth of all claims, and also introduced patients who told of the devastating effect of Blue Shield’s actions. They carried placards with the Blue Shield symbol reading, “Blue Shield harms, Blue Shield bankrupts, Blue Shield denies.”

“We are here because this is the scene of corporate crime. The beancounters upstairs don’t sit at the bedside and hold the hands of our patients,” said DeAnn McEwen, RN, co-president of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United which sponsored the spirited protest.

0211_BlueShield_6688

CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro

“It’s not hard to connect the dots here between nurses and patients turning up the heat on Blue Shield’s barricaded doorstep the same day it agrees to a brief reprieve in its egregious rate increase,” said CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro.

“A 60-day delay is a small victory, but it won’t alleviate the pain experienced by patients every day who must endure callous price increases and care denials by an industry that cares more about its bottom line than the patients it purports to serve,” said McEwen.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3436f74/

“Our insurance is completely not worth the price. We pay almost half what we pay for rent.” said Kerry Abukhalaf who brought her son to the rally. “Its just a big rip-off. We may just throw our chances to the wind and find insurance for our son and pay out of pocket for my husband and myself.”

“I’m angry. I find it really unfair that I’m forced to pay an unlimited amount to a private company. Basically, you have to pay the insurance or go away and die. Something has to change,” said Patrick Killelea, contract programmer living in Menlo Park whose rates have increased 73% in past year.

0211_BlueShield_6967

“People always ask me, ‘Why are the nurses doing this?’ The nurses are doing this because they are at ground zero. They see the fall out,” DeMoro said.

“The fact is, Blue Shield, or B.S. as I like to call them, is a poster child for one of the worst insurance companies in America.” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “They want a rate increase of 59% and we don’t even know how much their CEO makes.”

The nurses also presented new data showing insurers denied 26 percent of all claims last year. Since 2002, these seven firms, which account for more than three-fourths of all insurance enrollees in California, have rejected 67.5 million claims.

Among others joining the protest were representatives of the Courage Campaign, Healthcare Now, Physicians for a National Health Program, and the San Francisco Labor Council, along with other seniors, community, and healthcare activists.

“Blue Shield’s announcement today won’t stop protests against Blue Shield or other insurance corporations,” DeMoro said.

“We can learn a lesson from the streets of Egypt and other Arab countries,” DeMoro said. “Public pressure is essential to confront tyranny, whether you are faced with political repression or corporate control of our health. There are lives in the balance. We can’t count on legislators, regulators, courts or the lobbyists. We have to rely on the mobilization of people to stop these insurance abuses and step up the call for genuine reform, expanding Medicare to cover everyone.”

Uncategorized

Blue Shield, insurance companies, nurses, California Nurses Association, patients, heal

People power works, and not just in Egypt.

Blue Shield of California today announced a 60-day reprieve in an unconscionable rate hike of up to 59 percent it intends to foist on individuals and families.

The announcement coincided with announced plans by nurses, patients, and consumer advocates who stormed Blue Shield’s posh California corporate headquarters in downtown San Francisco.

Coincidence? That’s what Blue Shield insisted, even though they scurried to get out their press release the same morning they were surrounding their doors with barricades, chains, and security guards to protect their property from families facing bankruptcy with outrageous rate hikes and nurses who care for the collateral damage from insurance abuses.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3462f

The 200 protesters cited Blue Shield’s plan to jack up premiums, new data from the nurses documenting that California insurers deny more than one-fourth of all claims, and also introduced patients who told of the devastating effect of Blue Shield’s actions. They carried placards with the Blue Shield symbol reading, “Blue Shield harms, Blue Shield bankrupts, Blue Shield denies.”

“We are here because this is the scene of corporate crime. The beancounters upstairs don’t sit at the bedside and hold the hands of our patients,” said DeAnn McEwen, RN, co-president of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United which sponsored the spirited protest.

0211_BlueShield_6688

CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro

“It’s not hard to connect the dots here between nurses and patients turning up the heat on Blue Shield’s barricaded doorstep the same day it agrees to a brief reprieve in its egregious rate increase,” said CNA/NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro.

“A 60-day delay is a small victory, but it won’t alleviate the pain experienced by patients every day who must endure callous price increases and care denials by an industry that cares more about its bottom line than the patients it purports to serve,” said McEwen.

2011-02-01_BlueShield_3436f74/

“Our insurance is completely not worth the price. We pay almost half what we pay for rent.” said Kerry Abukhalaf who brought her son to the rally. “Its just a big rip-off. We may just throw our chances to the wind and find insurance for our son and pay out of pocket for my husband and myself.”

“I’m angry. I find it really unfair that I’m forced to pay an unlimited amount to a private company. Basically, you have to pay the insurance or go away and die. Something has to change,” said Patrick Killelea, contract programmer living in Menlo Park whose rates have increased 73% in past year.

0211_BlueShield_6967

“People always ask me, ‘Why are the nurses doing this?’ The nurses are doing this because they are at ground zero. They see the fall out,” DeMoro said.

“The fact is, Blue Shield, or B.S. as I like to call them, is a poster child for one of the worst insurance companies in America.” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “They want a rate increase of 59% and we don’t even know how much their CEO makes.”

The nurses also presented new data showing insurers denied 26 percent of all claims last year. Since 2002, these seven firms, which account for more than three-fourths of all insurance enrollees in California, have rejected 67.5 million claims.

Among others joining the protest were representatives of the Courage Campaign, Healthcare Now, Physicians for a National Health Program, and the San Francisco Labor Council, along with other seniors, community, and healthcare activists.

“Blue Shield’s announcement today won’t stop protests against Blue Shield or other insurance corporations,” DeMoro said.

“We can learn a lesson from the streets of Egypt and other Arab countries,” DeMoro said. “Public pressure is essential to confront tyranny, whether you are faced with political repression or corporate control of our health. There are lives in the balance. We can’t count on legislators, regulators, courts or the lobbyists. We have to rely on the mobilization of people to stop these insurance abuses and step up the call for genuine reform, expanding Medicare to cover everyone.”