On Oct 5, LWV-Lake County and LWV-Lake Forest/Lake Bluff presented the program "Health Care: how to Cure the Chronic Crisis" at the Senior Center in Lake Forest. The purpose of the program was to explain why health care is so expensive and why, despite spending twice as much as other countries, there are 50 million uninsured individuals in the US. As the League supports a Public Option, the program encouraged attendees to contact their legislators.
This event was recorded and cablecast on public access channels in local communities throughout Lake County. Thanks to LWV-Lake Forest/Lake Bluff the video is now available online. Click here to view the streaming video in your browser.
Following the introductory film, Health, Money and Fear, produced by ER doctor Paul Hochfeld, two expert panelists, Jonathan VanderBrug and Courtney Hedderman, provided current legislative updates and answered questions. Phyllis Albrecht, former Lake Bluff Village President and Past President of the League of Women Voters, moderated.
Jonathan VanderBrug, the Health Care Justice Director at the Campaign for Better Health Care, explained his organization’s work for health care reform. The Campaign for Better Health Care was founded in 1989 and is the largest health care coalition in Illinois, comprising more than 300 local and statewide organizations, including Catholic Charities, Church Women United, Illinois Nurses Association, Lake County Health Department, and University of Chicago Hospitals. The Campaign has received financial funding from many foundations, including Chicago Community Trust, Prince Charitable Fund, Field Foundation of Illinois, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Courtney Hedderman is Associate State Director for AARP Illinois. She is leading projects on health care reform and working on AARP’s national campaign, "Divided We Fail." AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50 and over improve the quality of their lives. Founded in 1958, AARP has grown to 40 million members. It is the nation’s largest membership organization for people 50 and older.
In 1990, the LWVUS undertook a two-year study of the funding and delivery of health care in the United States. The LWVUS announced its position in April 1993. Since then the League has been advocating for health care reform to all administrations.
The health care position outlines the goals the LWVUS believes are fundamental for U.S. health care policy. These include policies that promote access to a basic level of quality care at an affordable cost for all U.S. residents and strong cost-control mechanisms to ensure the efficient and economical delivery of care. See www.LWV.org for more information.
