To: Clerk of Council
From: [Person sending the letter, with title and organization]

Date: [Current date]
Subject: Request for Endorsement of the Health Care For All Ohioans Act

To the Clerk of Council: Please make copies of this communication available to members of your council. It concerns the health care crisis, a matter of great concern to the people of our country, state and community.

America's health care system is broken. Many municipalities, trying to maintain health care coverage for employees at a time of declining revenues, are confronted with soaring premiums. The problem is acute and growing worse by the day.

A significant campaign has been launched in Ohio to get the General Assembly to act without delay to pass the Health Care For All Ohioans Act (HCFAOA) guaranteeing comprehensive, quality, lifetime coverage for all residents. The list of endorsers of the campaign for publicly funded health care includes the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners, Brook Park City Council, Cleveland City Council, Dayton City Commission, Jefferson Village Council, Lakewood City Council, Mahoning County Commissioners, Painesville Township Board of Trustees, Seven Hills City Council, Struthers City Council, Village of Newburgh Heights, Warren City Council, Windham Village Council, three members of Congress, state legislators, dozens of unions, 78 physicians, several RNs, and faith and community groups. We are writing to urge cities, townships and villages that have not yet endorsed to do so now.

Here is what we are confronted with:

·  Medical costs are rising 20% a year.
·  The cost of prescription drugs is spiraling out of control. Many seniors are forced to choose between buying needed medicine and food for the table.
·  30 cents of every premium dollar goes for insurance profits and unnecessary paper work.
·  47 million people have no health insurance and that number is increasing rapidly.
·  Additional tens of millions more have only limited insurance and are one catastrophic illness away from bankruptcy.

We must have a publicly funded health care system that covers all Ohioans. Our health care dollars should go for patient care, not profits for health insurance companies.

Please return the enclosed endorsement form to the indicated address, letting us know that we may add the name of your city, village or township to the list of endorsers of the campaign to get the Ohio General Assembly to pass the HCFAOA (HB 186 and SB 168). 

If you have questions or need more information I can be reached at [phone number].

Sincerely,

[sender's signature]

Enclosure