Healthcare expenses are hurting the American family

MELANCON'S VIEWS:

Just as economic development and job creation are pocketbook issues, so is affordable, accessible health care. Health care is the top economic concern for many families and employers. Charlie Melancon believes we must find ways to help families and small businesses cope with the spiraling cost of health insurance. Seniors need help handling the high cost of prescription drugs and deserve a real Medicare prescription drug benefit that lowers costs without a maze of new cards and discount programs. Congressman Melancon believes that reforming the health care system in this country must be a national priority.   It's time for Congress to take on the big insurance companies and prescription drug companies.  It's time to help working families cope with the rising cost of health care and to make sure more people have health insurance.

CHARLIE MELANCON - "I will stand up for Louisiana pocketbooks, not prescription drug companies and insurance company profits. It's not right that prisoners in America don't have to worry about their health care costs and working families in Louisiana do. Reining in the rising cost of quality health care coverage is one of the best things we can do to give families more income and help our economy."

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

- Voted for a plan that creates a Small Employer Health Benefits Plan which would give small business the ability to pool their resources and offer affordable health insurance to their employees

- Co-sponsored the Medicare Informed Choice Act of 2005, which would have extended open enrollment for Medicare Part D through 2006 without penalty and allowed a one time prescription plan change in 2006

- Co-sponsored the Medicare's Equitable Drugs for Seniors Act of 2005, which would have helped ensure that seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans pay the lowest possible price for prescriptions

- Honored by the Louisiana Health Access Network for his work to make prescription drugs more affordable

STRATEGIES:

- Crack down on government-subsidized drug companies that continue to hike their prescription drug prices

- Allow for the purchase of lower cost prescription drugs from Canada