As election season approaches, Citizen Action of New York and Health Care for America Now (HCAN) organized outside of Saratoga Hospital’s emergency room Thursday to have their voices heard about their concerns about the future of healthcare in the United States. During the rally, speakers discussed a report released by the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations that found 38 of 62 healthcare insurers saw their annual profits rise between 2004 and 2007, totaling $12.6 billion, while their memberships were not growing and premiums were rising for their members.

“Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. A national healthcare plan needs to be a part of this year’s debate or we won’t be able to compete with the rest of the world when every other industrial country has a program for their citizens,” Ron Deutch, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness said. “We know we have a problem when General Motors is spending more money on health insurance than on steel.”

Members of HCAN are asking local members of Congress and Congressional Candidates which side they are on as well as asking them to stand up for quality, affordable health care for all.

“It’s time to shine the spotlight on the fact that the health insurance industry continues to put profits over people,” Deutch said. “Here in the Capital District, we know that the last people we can trust to fix the health care mess are the insurance companies. New Yorkers need real solutions that bring healthcare for all – not more rhetoric from the health insurance industry that claims to be part of the solution, but really is the problem.”

According to Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, health insurance premiums have been rising faster than both worker wages and inflation, such as in 2007, premiums increased 6.1 percent, while worker earnings increased 3.7 percent and inflation rose 2.6 percent.

The report also stated the combined profits for Oxford Health Insurance, Empire Healthchoice Assurance and Excellus Health Plan increased from $410.3 million in 2004 to $573.4 million in 2007.

“In 2009, we will either have a guarantee of quality, affordable healthcare we can all count on or we will continue to be at the mercy of the private health insurance industry that is charging us more, giving us less and putting company profits before our health,” said Sheila Healy, member of Citizen Action and HCAN. “We are calling on Congress to establish strong federal oversight over health insurers, to create a public health insurance option and to promote greater transparency of the financial performance of the insurers.”

The demonstration was one of similar events that have taken place or will take place in 45 states across the nation. In New York, events are taking place in Binghamton, Buffalo and Syracuse in addition to Saratoga Springs. HCAN is also holding events in 52 cities and 38 state capitals across the country between now and Election Day.