Norm Dicks

On Sunday, March 24, the House of Representatives passed health care reform legislation.  Congressman Dicks supported this bill, which will extend coverage to 32 million additional Americans, bar insurance companies from denying insurance coverage based on pre-existing conditions, make insurance more affordable for individuals who are self-employed, and make it easier for Americans to change jobs without worrying about the loss of health care coverage.  The bill will also reduce the federal deficit by over $100 billion over the next decade.

Congressman Dicks says “It is a shame that so many people are unable to get health care insurance in this country. This bill will ensure that Americans have access to the health care they desperately need.”

In the 6^th Congressional District, this bill will:

• Prevent 1,300 families from going bankrupt due to health care costs.
• Extend coverage to 58,000 uninsured residents of the district.
• Guarantee that 12,700 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain health care coverage.
• Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and over health care providers by $33 million a year.

Read more about this important piece of legislation:

http://healthreform.kff.org/

And in the news locally:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011407129_health22.html

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/22/1118929/state-gets-white-house-promise.html