Judy Chu: “Women of America, Republicans want you to believe that our health care reform bill is poison, that doing nothing is…”

“Women of America, Republicans want you to believe that our health care reform bill is poison, that doing nothing is better for the Nation. But the truth is doing nothing is poison for the women of America. Insurance companies are cheating women from getting the health care they need. It is women that need health care reform the most. Women have a harder time getting the care they need, women like Holly from Georgia. Holly is 3 months into her chemotherapy treatment for cervical cancer. She works at a small business that does not offer insurance to its employees, and she makes too much to qualify for Medicaid. But she thought she would be okay because of her husband's insurance. Then the devastating news came: her husband lost his job. They shopped around for private insurance but were turned away by the best plans because of her cancer. They are now stuck paying $850 a month to a private insurance company to cover their family of four, almost the same amount as her mortgage. It is just not fair. It is so clear that women need health care reform. Did you know that women pay more for health care? Today they are forced to settle for less health care at a higher price. Insurance companies charge as much as 50 percent more to women over men for the exact same coverage. What is worse is that this blatant gender inequality is legal in 38 States. But health care reform will make this type of gender discrimination illegal.”