AFSCME Maryland must lead the fight for health care reform. Once we achieve a system that controls costs and covers everyone, then we can turn our full efforts on winning better wages for our members.

• Stop Spiraling Costs AFSCME Maryland members have good health coverage today, but we cannot guarantee that benefit in the future unless we curb spiraling health care costs. The rising costs of health benefits have also taken their toll on the wage increases in our contracts.
• Lower Premiums Each premium for family coverage contains, on national average, more than $1,000 to pay for uncompensated care for the uninsured. This amount goes up every year, and it is one big reason AFSCME members (and anyone else with coverage) should care about getting the uninsured covered.
• Improve Retiree Benefits When we successfully address costs, retiree benefits are more sustainable; and health care reform will mandate coverage and provide more options for coverage for retirees.

In Maryland, from 2000-2007:

• Health insurance premiums (for all types of health coverage) skyrocketed by 64%
• The average annual premium cost for family coverage rose from $7,287 to $11,960
• Family health insurance premiums rose three times faster than median earnings for working families in Maryland.

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