The evidence is clear -- America's health care system is failing folks
like Dawn Smith.

Dawn was diagnosed with a brain tumor that causes crippling pain and
keeps her from working. The tumor was treatable -- but Dawn's
insurance company, CIGNA, denied her treatment for two years. CIGNA
finally changed their tune, but not until our friends at MoveOn.org
brought Dawn's story to light.1

But CIGNA still won't promise to cover all the treatment Dawn needs.
And they still won't explain why they denied her care for two years,
let alone whether they'll change their policies. So Dawn is fighting
back -- she's going to drive up to CIGNA's headquarters in
Philadelphia to confront the CEO in person.

Fundamentally, Dawn isn't fighting just for herself. She's fighting
for everyone who has struggled with irresponsible, unaccountable
insurance companies who are fighting tooth and nail against the very
reform that could level the playing field for Black folks, and improve
health care for all Americans.

That's why we've joined MoveOn.org in supporting Dawn as she confronts
CIGNA. Will you sign a statement of support for Dawn Smith? Your
message will be delivered directly to CIGNA CEO H. Edward Hanway in
person.

By highlighting Dawn's struggle in the media and with members of
Congress, we can make clear why health care reform -- including real
accountability for insurance companies -- is such an urgent priority
right now.

And as we all know, the need really is urgent -- especially for Black
folks, who suffer from a wide range of health care disparities:

    * Black folks are twice as likely to be uninsured as white folks.2
    * 22% of Black women say cost keeps them away from the doctor's
office, compared to 15% of White women3
    * Black women have the highest rates of new AIDS cases, cancer
mortality, obesity and low-weight infants of any ethnic or racial
group4
    * There are 13.6 Black infant deaths per 1,000 live births,
compared to 5.7 White infant deaths per 1,000 live births5

The insurance companies are doing nothing to address these
disparities, and in fact are doing what they can to block reform. In
Dawn's case, all CIGNA has done so far is offer vague gestures aimed
at doing the bare minimum to keep Dawn quiet -- chalking up their
outrageous behavior to "mix ups" and assuring her they're "in the
business of caring." They're putting Band-Aids on problems that are
more like bullet holes. But, unfortunately for CIGNA, Dawn's not
planning to quiet down so easily -- not until she gets the answers she
needs.

That's why she's taking her campaign to the next level by taking her
story on the road.

She'll confront CIGNA at their headquarters in Philadelphia. She'll
try to meet with members of Congress in Washington and ask for their
help. And she'll stop in cities and towns along the way to collect
stories from the countless other Americans who are suffering at the
hands of their insurance companies. You can help Dawn by lending your
voice to her struggle. You can speak out here:

Thanks and Peace,

-- James, Gabriel, William, Dani and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org
team
   October 17th, 2009

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References

1. "Dawn Smith, Brain Tumor Victim: How Her Story Became Rallying Cry
For Health Care Reform Supporters," The Huffington Post, 10-5-2009
 

2. "Key Health and Health Care Indicators by Race/Ethnicity and
State," Kaiser Family Foundation, 2009

3. "Putting Women's Health Care Disparities on the Map: Examining
Racial and Ethnic Disparities at the State Level," Kaiser Family
Foundation, 6-10-09
 

4. Ibid.

5. See #2