Affordable Health Care

Quality health care is essential for the well-being of our nation's children and families. Children's access to quality health care can impact their ability to learn and succeed in school. 

The number of uninsured Americans has grown significantly over the past three years, escalating from 41.2 million in 2001 to 46.6 million in 2005. American consumers are also charged the highest prices in the world for the same medicines that are available in other major industrialized nations at a fraction of the cost. 

 NEA needs your help now on several issues.

Urge Congress: Let the Federal Government Negotiate Cheaper Drug Prices for Medicare Recipients

Millions of seniors, many of them retired educators and education support professionals living on fixed incomes, face escalating medication costs. Too often, they must pay for medication at the expense of food or other necessities. This is, in part, because current law explicitly prohibits the federal government from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies, leaving individual Medicare beneficiaries with no leverage to secure discount drug prices.

The House has already passed legislation (H.R. 4) to allow the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate for bulk drug discounts for Medicare recipients. In late April, the Senate blocked efforts to move a similar bill (S. 3) to the floor for a vote.

 NEA supports this proposal.

Tell your Senators: Help seniors facing rising prescription drug costs by letting the federal government negotiate cheaper Medicare drug prices.

I need more info:

• NEA's Position on Negotiating Prescription Drugs
• Letters to Congress 

Urge Congress: Allow Consumers to Purchase Safe, Affordable Medications from Other Countries

American consumers are charged the highest prices in the world for the same medicines that are available in other major industrialized nations at a fraction of the cost. As a result, millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities, many of them retired educators living on fixed incomes, face escalating medication costs and too often must pay for medication at the expense of food or other necessities.

NEA supports allowing pharmacies, drug wholesalers, and consumers to import FDA-approved medicines from Canada and other industrialized nations.

 NEA supports this proposal.

Tell your U.S. Senators and Representatives: Help American consumers buy affordable medications by allowing purchase of safe prescription drugs from other countries.

I need more info:

• NEA's Position on Importance of Affordable Prescription Drugs