ANA Teams Up Again with National Partners for Cover the Uninsured Week, May 10 to 16

The American Nurses Association will again be working to make sure that the issue of the uninsured is a focus of national discussion. From May 10 to 16, 2004, events will be held from coast to coast so that more Americans can learn about this critical problem-who is affected, why they are uninsured, the consequences of being uninsured to physical and financial health-and how this issue affects every American, not just those who are uninsured. Figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show that nearly 44 million Americans, including about 8.5 million children, went without health insurance coverage between 2001 and 2002. That's an increase from 42 million uninsured Americans the year before. Nurses see firsthand the consequences that stem from a lack of health insurance coverage: sicker patients who have postponed needed health care.

ANA is a founding partner of Cover the Uninsured Week, which is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The California Endowment and other funders, and will be joined by more than 800 local and national organizations and thousands of Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Former Presidents Gerald R. Ford and Jimmy Carter once again have agreed to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs and Noah Wylie, star of the television show "ER," has agreed to serve as the campaign spokesperson.

The initial target markets for Cover the Uninsured Week activities are: Albuquerque, NM; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Portland, OR; Sacramento, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; St. Louis, MO; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA, Topeka, KS; and Washington, D.C. Additional target markets may be added as the Week approaches. Cover the Uninsured Week staff will help local coalitions organize events in these communities. Other interested individuals and organizations are encouraged to sign on and plan activities for the week. An Action Kit will be available online, by Feb. 13, at www.CovertheUninsuredWeek.org. It will include timelines, activity descriptions, template materials, case studies and more. Contact information for field coordinators in each of the target markets, and regional coordinators for non-target markets, also is available online.

Activities leading up to the Week will include events within the religious community, and on college and university campuses. During the Week, community events will take place all across the country including health and enrollment fairs, press conferences and small business seminars. These events will highlight the issue, call for solutions and, in some cases, provide opportunities for individuals and organizations to offer direct assistance to those who lack health insurance coverage. These efforts will continue in the weeks and months following Cover the Uninsured Week as part of the ongoing campaign.

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