Medicaid expansion in VA will help a lot of folks that need help.

hi I just received an email from Randy, his position is that VA should pass a clean basic funding bill, and then focus on a single issue legislation enabling VA to provide the extended Medicaid (Victory) :) .. I am also asking him to host a town hall on a brain storming session on how to rekindle the American Dream esp. for High School Seniors. He apparently is reacting to the public debate.. I grew up and lived in Canada where basic needs like health care, housing, food was available for the poor, although it was still a struggle for the families, the government made sure the children of the poor received enough support such they were in a position to contribute to the economy as adults. I am a proud US citizen, and what to see the best future for this country, I have a senior and junior in Loudon County High school and they both tell me the American Dream is Dead! Can you believe that? We need to reverse this thinking in our young adults, one way is to show them leadership in tough decisions!

There are many people in your district who are not covered by medical insurance of any kind. This puts a tremendous burden on local taxpayers who have to cover their medical costs locally when we have already paid federal taxes to support this benefit. In essence, we are paying twice when our federal tax money is going to pay for medical care for those in other states. The local hospital does tremendous charitable work, but the financial burden on them is enormous. Likewise, our local jail has to cover inmate medical costs; again, we are taxed twice. It not only is the right thing to do to see that everyone has medical care, but it is the smart and economical thing to do. Please support residents of your district, not those with other agendas.

The special legislative session is a huge opportunity to expand access to health care in Virginia. Let our delegate, Brenda Pogge, know that you care about whether she votes to support nearly 200,000 Virginians being able to gain access to health care. It will save lives. And it will save Virginia taxpayers billions of dollars every year.

Affordable health care will serve as preventive medicine and in the long run will cost less than fixing people after they become ill. Besides, it is the right thing to do.

There is a least one person, but probably many more subjected to abject pain and suffering of ill health without recourse to any effective avenue for its surcease or mitigation. Reliable estimates of the actual number of persons, real live men, women, adults and children, are said to be greater than 190 ,000; just one is inexcusable

Expand Medicaid in Virginia

As an educator for more than 40 years I have seen the impact of poor health care on our school-aged children. It robs them of learning time in school and life opportunities as they grow up. Let's expand Medicaid. As Virginians, public health is more important than partisanship.

There is a line in an old folk song that says "if living was a thing that money could buy, you know the rich would live and the poor would die." Of course that is exactly what happens. I have insurance, can well afford my medical care, and just had a triple heart bypass that saved my life. However I know several people right here in this area who have no ability to buy the medical insurance they need. This is a life and death issue.

I was recently as the Town Hall in Charlottesville, VA to discuss my concerns and thoughts about the Medicaid expansion. To my dismay my own Delegate Rob Bell did not show up. I have always thought highly of him, and wish I could have asked him about his ideas on the Expanded Medicaid. Our delegates have the power to fundamentally change the health care system in our state is in your hands. By expanding Medicaid, low-income Virginians will have access to health coverage, and there is potential to undo the profound health disparities in our state. Please understand, this includes individuals who work, yet cannot afford healthcare. As it stands, working individuals, like me, who are uninsured are likelier to develop serious health complications or die younger from diseases that are all too often preventable. By gaining health insurance through Medicaid, we would add health coverage for more than half-a-million Virginians within five years who otherwise would remain under insured. I am urging Rob Bell to implement the Medicaid Expansion for low-income individuals under the Affordable Care Act so that all of our state can remain healthy and strong. Right now I have paid for two necessary and health threatening operations out of pocket. I am in need of a third. Because I cannot pay for the surgery I end up in the ER for pain medicines and to make sure that my condition has not worsened. Please give people a fighting chance in Virginia. It's not about politics, it is about doing what is right. If I do not receive the medical care that I need, then I will not be able to work. Most likely I will have to claim disability, and get food stamps (which we do not receive now). Please give us working folks a chance. I am sure if our delegates were in our financial situation, they would understand. Please sign the petition and let them know that we, in Virginia care for others. We care about our people, and we think that healthcare should be expanded to help families like mine.

Many people need help. Don't give up this opportunity to get Medicaid at a fraction of its cost to states. It would be stupid! Hear this.

It is to request our state delegate Kirkland Cox to support the Medicaid expansion coverage debate that will take place in Richmond next week, to Virginians that indeed need it. To take care of those members of our society who can not take care of themselves because of different circumstances signify our moral strength and virtues of our civilized culture.