Help Us Help Others

The United States is the only large industrialized country that does not guarantee all its citizens immediate and regular access to health care. About one in six Americans is now without health insurance, and the number is growing despite almost 10 years of economic expansion. For many more, insurance coverage is incomplete or inadequate. Even those who do have adequate insurance through an employer or government program face the possibility of losing coverage through no fault of their own. And many insurance programs are confusing, hard to use and unnecessarily complicated. This country has the most advanced medical technology in the world, but it does not make it available to everyone who needs it. As a result of its lack of fairness and rationality, the U.S. health care system was ranked recently by the World Health Organization as only 37th in the world.

The Consumers for Affordable Health Care Coalition , a sister organization to the group that is providing this handbook, is a broad alliance of more than 30 organizations, such as small businesses and churches, and many individuals. It seeks to provide universal access to health care for all Maine citizens. We have helped in passing many state laws making health care more available and more affordable, but our work is far from over. Not until every Mainer can find reliable, high quality health care when they need it can we say we have succeeded in our goal.

To find out how to join us in our fight to help your neighbors, learn how you can become a member of our Coalition.