Federal Health Care Reform
What are the provisions of the federal health care plan? What does it provide for persons in our congregations that need specific provisions? View the federal health care resource pages at:
Learn about the provisions of the Affordable Care Act – both those that have gone into effect already, and those that will be put in place in the coming months.- Find the private insurance plans, public programs and community services that are available to you and members of your congregation who need health insurance.
What does federal health care reform mean for people of faith?
Read about how the faithful see health care for all as a moral responsibility issue. The following resources are taken from The Heart in Health Care Reform – resources from Faithful Reform in Health Care:
- Faith Values and Responsibility in Health Care Reform (PDF)
Reflections to move the discussion about “mandates” to dialogue about “shared responsibility” - A Moral Vision for our Health Care Future (PDF) looks at the federal health care reform bill in the light of the principles of “A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care.”
- How Health Care Reform Impacts Communities of Faith and Their Leaders (PDF) considers the implications of federal reform for communities of faith as non-profit employers and for clergy and other faith leaders as individuals.
Information About Affordable Care Act
- Health Reform Source from the Kaiser Family Foundation
- “A Summary of the Health Reform Law“ (PDF) from Families USA
- Wisconsin Office of Health Care Reform – Implementing the Act in Wisconsin
The Health Care Crisis in Wisconsin
Wisconsin faces a triple crisis in health care: the skyrocketing cost of health insurance, increasing numbers of uninsured, and a severe deficit in the state’s Medicaid program.
- Employers now spend an average of 15% of payroll for employee’s health care premiums. Health care costs are rising 9% per year, which hurts wages, profits, job creation and new investment in Wisconsin.
- Over a half million Wisconsinites – fully 10% of our population – have no health insurance coverage at some point during the year. Lack of insurance is a significant factor in premature death and bankruptcy.
- Wisconsin’s Medicaid program, a state-run program that provides health insurance for low-income persons, is facing continual deficit because costs and caseloads are rising significantly faster than state revenues.
As people of faith, we believe that our Creator God intends health and wholeness for every human life. Thus, the Wisconsin Council of Churches is working with other health care reform advocates to educate and mobilize Wisconsin’s religious community to support the creation of a universal health care system. Several major proposals have been introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature. The Council encourages that individuals and congregations learn more about the crisis and evaluate the various proposals in light of the moral principles of human dignity, the common good, social justice and good stewardship.
For more information download “Principles for Health Care Reform” (PDF).
Health & Hope – A Study Guide for Wisconsin Congregations
Download a PDF copy of “Health & Hope – A Study Guide for Wisconsin Congregations” for viewing or printing.
The Guide can be used for Sunday adult forums, two-hour evening events, a half-weekend event, ecumenical study groups or a retreat for your church council or social witness committee. The Council has a limited number of the Guides remaining, so please feel free to duplicate it for participants.
How to Organize a Community Forum
Five Easy Steps to Organizing a Successful Universal Health Care Community Forum:
- Gather a planning committee consisting of local pastors, health care providers, chamber of commerce, etc.
- Meet with WI Council of Churches staff to set a date for a local forum, develop a list of co-sponsors, develop an outreach strategy and to develop a media strategy.
- Implement the outreach strategy using flyers and bulletin inserts for congregations and other co-sponsors, placing announcements in local media (print and radio), sending out press releases one week before the event for weekly publications, and three days prior for everything else
- Plan who will moderate the forum, introduce speakers and facilitate the Q & A. Decide who will provide hospitality, handle needed Audio/Visual equipment, and gather contact information of attendees.
- Follow up with a report to the media, with study resources for congregations and a local contact list for legislative work.
Suggested forum Handout: “Principles of Health Care Reform” (PDF File)
Advocacy Opportunities
View the WCC Advocacy resources.
Additional Resources
For a comprehensive listing of online resources about health care and health care reform, religious sites and internet sources of information view the Health Care Resources page.
