Easter Seals Disability Services

Easter Seals Affiliates Deliver a United Message to Congress!

Representatives from Easter Seals affiliates all over the US headed to Washington DC for the 2009 Easter Seals Convention on October 20th and to deliver a united message to congress stressing the importance of health care reform issues for people with disabilities.

Testimonials from the families served by Easter Seals New Jersey in each congressional district were hand delivered to elected representatives as personal accounts of how dollars from Washington support and impact families in New Jersey.

Americans with disabilities struggle to access the supports they need to live fulfilling and productive lives in their communities and too often, health care plans limit coverage of essential services that people with disabilities need.

Easter Seals' Legislative Priorities for the 111th Congress focuses on stressing the importance of revising the current health care insurance system to insure that all people with disabilities have access to comprehensive, affordable health care that meets their needs and promotes their long term health.

“Every family in America is one phone call, one accident, one diagnosis away from needing what we have in our bill,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who  met with Easter Seals staff and representative during the convention.

In order for health insurance to be meaningful for people with disabilities, it must include and guarantee:

• Coverage for pre-existing conditions, guaranteed coverage renewal, and no annual or lifetime caps

• Benefits like habilitative and rehabilitative services, medical equipment and devices, and mental health services

• Affordability provisions, so that all people, including those with disabilities, can receive the health care services they need when they need it

• Preservation and protection of Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program with no reductions.

Please stand with Easter Seals and make YOUR voice heard, too. Here’s how you can help.

Tell Congress: People with Disabilities Need Meaningful Health Coverage