THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PROPOSES TO HIKE PRESCRIPTION CO-PAYS FOR ITS MOST MEDICALLY VULNERABLE EMPLOYEES DO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY HAVE A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION LIKE CANCER, HIV, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, OR HEPATITIS C??? IF SO, THE UC WANTS TO HIKE YOUR PRESCRIPTION CO-PAYS to 30% of the cost (TO A CAP OF $150) PER MONTH, PER MEDICATION up to $1,500 annually for UC employees enrolled in Kaiser, and $1,000 for all other health plans. • On July 24th, 2014 the UC revealed its plan to hike co-payments for “specialty RX” from the normal co-pay to what they call a “coinsurance model.” • This “coinsurance model” is planned to be agreed upon by the UC and the insurance companies in September 2014 but would go into effect January 1ST, 2015. • They call this “cost sharing” and it would mean that for every single “specialty RX” that you or your family takes, you would have to pay 30% of its cost, or $150.00 per month, whichever is less up to $1,500 annually for UC employees enrolled in Kaiser, and $1,000 for all other health plans. • They define “specialty RX” as any medications used to treat HIV, Cancer, MS, or Hep C (but there could be others). THIS PLAN MUST BE STOPPED In addition to signing this petition, please write your story of how this would affect you or your family to us at [email protected] You can be anonymous, and we will respect your privacy. Stories will be shared with the UCOP, with identifying details removed if you wish.

I am asking the President, the US Congress, and local congresspersons to accept the fact that the ability to eat and talk is integral to one's healthcare. Teeth are not extraneous appendages, like hair. They are part of the alimentary process; therefore, Medicare ought to be involved in dental care for adults (children may be covered in other ways). Many of us cannot come close to affording the charges that specialty dentists charge, nowadays. I have trouble eating , digesting, and talking. Thanks for your attention to this matter. Update: Now , I have 10 missing teeth, and a recent extraction. I found another dentist, and have good credit. But what about those who have zero funding? The problem still must be addressed.

Because we all need dental insurance, for the overall health, for seniors especially. Should be included in medicare, medcaid or state insuranes also,

Because of real life experiences this must be completed to it's finish. Bring America back to the people's choice.

Public Health is a safety net program for vulnerable individuals living uninsured and uncovered by the Affordable Care Act. Nearly 50,000 clients may lose their Public Health services beginning January 1, 2015. Most of these cuts will happen in the South County. Public Health services that will be cut or reduced include WIC, family planning, Pediatrics, Maternity Support Services, Nurse Family Partnership, and others. These cuts will decrease and privatize lifesaving services. These cuts will widen health disparities, particularly those along race and class lines in the South End of King County. When Public Health Services close, the whole community will suffer with increased rates of disease and chronic health problems. Stand with Communities 4 Public Health. One county. One health department. One healthy community.

I have been blind-sided twice this year with premium increases from my Blue Shield of California Medi Gap plan. Never before has this happened to me in my many years of being insured. When selecting a Medi Gap, or any insurance plan, your premium price plays a pivotal role. Also, when you are presented with a 2014 premium, you have a reasonable expectation that it means all of 2014 (12 months, to be exact). Blue Shield's bait and switch and discriminatory practices should be illegal and should not be allowed. My first increase was in March, and I was told that it was due to me turning an odd-number age in February. My second increase came in August, for which I was told was an across-the-board increase for their Medi Gap plan, affecting mostly seniors. In my complaint to Blue Shield, I referenced a document on the Blue Shield web site that states that premium increases based on age go into effect the January of the year following the odd-year birthday. I was told that this document was for their regular plans and not their Medi Gap, their senior plan. Blue Shield justified this practice by saying that Medicare had approved and signed off on this age-discriminatory practice. It cannot be okay for Blue Shield to raise premiums for seniors at will, nor is it okay for Medicare to approve such a plan. For Blue Shield to advertise their premium as 2014 premium is false advertisement and fraudulent. It is not a 2014 premium plan; it's a month-to-month plan that is subject to change at any time, and should be advertised as such. Corporations don't accept this deception from Blue Shield in regard to their employees and neither should Medicare. Bait and switch practices are illegal, false advertisement is illegal, fraud is illegal and age discrimination is illegal. Therefore, these practices by Blue Shield are illegal and unacceptable. If you are a senior, care about a senior, or hope to be a senior someday, you need to sign this petition and put an end to Blue Shield's unscrupulous practices! If we don't stop Blue Shield, your insurance company could be next. This petition is not about high premiums, it is about unfair and, in most cases, illegal practices.

It is estimated that 54,000 citizens of Nebraska are not getting the medical care they deserve because our state refuses to join the federally funded Medicaid Expansion program in the Affordable Care Act. The program is fully funded for the first three years and is funded at a minimum of 90% after that. Our current governor thinks we can't afford it, but clearly it is not a money issue when millions of dollars could infuse our economy and create new jobs while providing needed medical care at the earliest stages of a problem rather than crisis control in an emergency room. Withholding this coverage is fiscally irresponsible and morally corrupt. The opposition to this program “has placed the lives of hundreds of working Nebraskans at risk and jeopardized the health of thousands more” said the Nebraska Hospital Association. (Washington Post, March, 19, 2014) I’m not going to stand by and let my fellow Nebraskans die for lack of access to medical care when the program they need is ready and waiting to help if only the Unicameral and the governor had the will to act. A recent effort to move forward with a very common sense implementation failed to progress in the Unicameral by only 12 votes. Please help by signing this petition today. We must put pressure on those who are running for office this election cycle. We can’t let this type of narrow minded politics continue in our state.

When my daughter Sophie, who struggles with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder turned 18, I lost the right to talk with her doctors and help her make treatment decisions. I chronicle my story in "Surrounded By Madness: A Memoir of Mental Illness and Family Secrets." Sophie spiraled out of control, is addicted to meth, and lives on the streets, when she's not in jail. Our mental health system is in shambles. H.R. 3717 would enable parents to help when their adult child is in crisis, treat patients in the least restrictive environment, and make assisted outpatient treatment programs an alternative to jails and prisons.

I was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis one year ago and have been receiving treatment at MDAnderson, where I am participating in a research study . This is a rare blood disorder and the only cure is a stem cell transplant. When I was denied insurance coverage by Medicare, I realized that they factor in your age, and "old people" are going to die anyway, so why allow treatment when this individual already lived their life. Sorry but I'm 66 years old, and I have a lot of life left in me. If I need the transplant, I want the transplant. I am doing my part participating in this research study and I should at least be given the option of a life saving treatment.

Most seniors living in nursing homes are usually in a fragile condition. Families are relying on those facilities to provide the best care for their loved ones as possible. In most of those facilities, there is not a RN on duty all of the time. Some only have a RN on duty during the day. These residents need specialized care but are left to rely on a Certified Nursing Assistant, who have limited training. If a CNA is going to be left to care for these patients, they need to have more critical care training, and be required to take a test to determine if that type of work is a good fit for them. There needs to be at least 1 RN, preferably 2, on duty in nursing homes and critical care facilities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Because I want to get our freedom and food choices back

The right wing has spent millions of dollars spreading false information about the Affordable Care Act. Cory Gardner has made Obamacare scare tactics the central theme of his campaign. Their willingness to mislead voters for political gain on this critical issue has done a terrible disservice to the entire nation.