MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Contact: Jenny Davies-Schley 720-296-9545
DENVER – The latest bit of fun coming out of the “Thanks Obamacare” campaign launched by the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative and ProgressNow Colorado Education is the “Top 10 Myths about Obamacare,” which can be found at http://ThanksObamacare.org.
“There are so many myths about Obamacare. We’re out to bust those myths, because the reality is healthcare reform is helping Coloradans,” said Serena Woods, Colorado Consumer Health Initiatives’ director of strategic engagement. “People are learning that Obamacare makes it easier and more affordable for families and elders to get the healthcare they need, when they need it.”
The Top 10 Myths take on persistent misinformation about program costs, rationing and so-called “death panels.” Each of the myths is debunked with links to trusted sources. The Thanks Obamacare website launched last month, listing the top 10 reasons Coloradans have to thank Obamacare. Like reason #1: Congress will have the same health care as the rest of us, and reason #5: Insurance companies can’t kick sick people off coverage.
The campaign has reached hundreds of thousands in Colorado and across the country on Twitter, using the hashtag #ThanksObamacare and tweeting from @ThanksObamacare. Many have shared their own personal stories about having benefited from healthcare reform, including:
- Lizzy from Colorado: @lizzystephan: #thanksobamacare for letting me stay on my parents’ insurance till I’m 26! That’s huge.
- Josh from Kansas: @joshcaryaudio Thanks Obamacare! I can no longer be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition! @thanksobamacare http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suetmZzdk6Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player
- Stef from Florida: @StefONFIRE I now have health insurance and am getting treatment for my thyroid cancer #thanksobamacare
- M. Welman Paez from Los Angeles: @MWelmanPaez #ThanksObamaCare for making sure people with pre-existing conditions like #MultipleSclerosis can purchase insurance and live healthy lives.
- Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Tybak: @MayorRTRybak For the people who asked @DWStweets about healthcare today go to thanksObamacare.org #thanksobamacare Pass on to counter misinformation
“Death panels, government takeover of health care, rationing of care. There are so many fanciful myths out there about Obamacare, it was fun to do a little mythbusting,” said Jen Caltrider of ProgressNow Colorado Education.
The groups intend to continue the education campaign throughout the full implementation of Obamacare in 2014.
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative represents 30+ Colorado health organizations with more than 500,000 health care consumer members and advocates for affordable, accessible quality health care for all Coloradans.
ProgressNow Colorado Education is the state’s largest online progressive advocacy organization.
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