Historic Health Care Vote Reflects Renewal of Confidence in America
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President in March, 2010 is the most sweeping social justice legislation to move through Congress in over forty years.
This is one of those rare instances when calling a vote "historic" is not an exaggeration. Guaranteeing affordable health care for everyone in America has been a goal of reformers for nearly 100 years, going all the way back to Republican President Theodore Roosevelt.
The historic vote reflects a renewal of national self-confidence that America is up to the task of solving our most pressing problems. We used to be a nation brimming with confidence that our democracy had the capacity to achieve great things. But over the last thirty years, naysayers have promoted the self-defeating idea that economic and social problems were beyond our capacity to remedy.
Like Social Security and Medicare, which were highly controversial before they were enacted, Wisconsinites will not even think of giving up these benefits once they are established. It is imperative that we use the renewed sense of national purpose the historic health care vote provides to fight back against the efforts of "bitter end' opponents to block implementation, or repeal the law before it can take full effect. As a nation, we also need similar boldness and faith in American democracy to make progress on other critical agenda items, especially the jobs crisis that threatens to undermine the American dream for so many.
New WI Auto Law Eliminates Coverages - Protect Yourself Before Changes Come in November
Carroll Plumb’s medical bills exceeded $1 million after he was severely injured in a 2010 Sheboygan County motorcycle accident. Yet, the driver at fault only had liability insurance of $250,000. Luckily, Carroll had purchased $300,000 of underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage for each of his two vehicles. Under current law, Carroll can recover $850,000 – $250,000 from the negligent driver and $600,000 from both UIM policies. Not so fast! As of Nov. 1, 2011, Carroll would only get $300,000, a difference of $550,000! You should know what to do now to protect yourself so this doesn’t happen to you later.
Protect Yourself: Do Your Homework
Step 1: Analyze Your Policy
Review your auto policy at renewal, especially before the law changes.
Sit down with your agent ASAP and make sure you have adequate insurance by understanding exactly what your policy covers – especially with new laws going into effect in November.
Check your liability limits.
If you are at fault in an accident and the other driver’s damages exceed your liability limits, you can be held personally liable. And don’t get tricked into thinking that the minimum amount of coverage required in Wisconsin will protect you. Effective Nov. 1, the limits will decrease to only:
$25,000 for bodily injuries caused to one person
$50,000 for bodily injuries for all persons
$10,000 for property damage
While this may seem like a lot of money, it will quickly vanish in a serious accident with high medical bills and other costs. In most cases, you should buy the highest level of coverage you can comfortably afford that covers your personal assets – home, business or other investments.
Citizen Action strongly supports the Family Justice Bill, which passed the State Senate last session but was not approved by the Assembly. Wisconsin is one of the only states in the nation where there is no remedy when an unmarried, widowed, or divorced family member dies as a result of medical malpractice. Parents cannot file for the loss of a child once they turn 18 in Wisconsin. Unbelievably, a doctor who killed an unmarried parent or an unmarried adult child in an auto accident could have a wrongful death claim filed against them, but could not if they died as a result of medical malpractice. The Family Justice Bill remedies this situation, by giving Wisconsin families the same right that families have in most other states. More information on the Family Justice Bill is available from the Wisconsin Association for Justice
Citizen Action of Wisconsin believes that change is necessary at all levels of public policy - federal, state and local. We work closely with USAction and partner organizations across the country on key federal issues. Currently, we have three federal issue priorities: Passing a federal budget that invests in America's Future, blocking the escalation of the war in Iraq, and passing the Employee Free Choice Act. We have also worked on protecting Social Security from privatization. See the links below for more detailed information.
Issues
