IHM: Michigan Health Care Ballot Initiative

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Presentation on Michigan Health Care Ballot Initiative scheduled
Feb. 7, 2008

On Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m., in the IHM Motherhouse Community Room, Margaret Alandt, IHM, and Ann Nett, IHM, will offer information on the Michigan Health Care Security Campaign.

The campaign is a 2008 ballot initiative amending the state constitution to require the legislature to enact laws providing affordable health care for all Michigan citizens. Although the state spends about $6,000 per person per year on health care, health care costs continue to rise every year. As a result, more and more Michigan residents drop their health insurance because they can't afford it; and businesses drop health coverage for their employees because they cannot remain competitive and pay high health insurance costs.

A coalition of health care, labor, civil rights and religious organizations is working to collect 475,000 signatures by July 7 in an effort to get a proposal to amend the state constitution on the November 2008 ballot. If passed, the constitutional amendment would require the legislature to come up with a solution for the state's 1.1 million uninsured residents and to address the spiraling costs of health care.

The event is free and open to the public. The Motherhouse is located at 610 West Elm Ave., Monroe, Mich.