[StBernard] Women`s health, Obama`s visit & more!

[Westley Annis]

Dear Friend,

	What a busy week! Continue below to read about my efforts to bring
attention to gender inequality in health care, and to the ongoing recovery
efforts in the Gulf Coast. Make sure to forward this email to friends and
family who share your interest in the future of Louisiana. 


Landrieu Advocates For Gender Equality in Health Care


This week, the Senate has made significant progress towards comprehensive,
affordable health care coverage.  Senator Landrieu looks forward to the
upcoming debate, and to the passage of a bill that provides access to health
care for all Americans.

Louisiana Fast Facts	 
The National Women's Law Center ranked Louisiana 50th in women's health and
gave the state a grade F


1 in 5 women over the age of 50 in Louisiana have not received a mammogram
in the past two years

Louisiana has the highest breast cancer death rate in the country

Louisiana also has the lowest female life expectancy in the country - 76.9
years, compared to 78.8 years nationally

But there is one area that has not received enough attention: gender
descrimination in health care. Last week, Sen. Landrieu joined other
Democratic women Senators to highlight the inequalities that women face when
seeking insurance coverage and receiving health services.

On the floor of the Senate, Sen. Landrieu recounted the story of Denelle, a
25-year old Baton Rouge, woman who had spent 2 years uninsured since
graduating from LSU. While in school, she did not worry about insurance,
because she had access to the University's health center, and opted out of
health insurance through her part-time job at Chili's. However, after
graduation, she no longer had access to the University's clinic, and it was
too late to sign up for her employer's insurance because open enrollment had
ended.

Denelle looked into purchasing a health insurance plan through the
individual market, but could not afford the high premiums. Even after taking
on a second job, health insurance would have cost her about 20% of her
modest paycheck. Without insurance, Denelle is barely able to afford her
annual gynecological exam.

Danelle's case is not unique. As a young woman, the individual plans offered
to her are about one and a half times more expensive than a plan offered to
a 25-year old man. Across this nation, insurance companies discriminate
against women, leaving many without access to affordable care.
 
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3429> Because women require more
regular contact with their doctors during their reproductive years, they are
regularly charged higher premiums than men. 40 states, including Louisiana,
and the District of Columbia allow "gender rating," under which insurance
companies charge women more for the same coverage as men.  In fact, in
Louisiana, all of the best-selling insurance plans gender-rate, costing
women up to 38% more than men.

While Sen. Landrieu believes it is important to make health care available
to all Americans, and to do it in a way that is fiscally responsible, she
also believes it is important to pass a health care bill that ends the
unfair and unequal treatment of women.

To watch Sen. Landrieu's floor speech, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3429> .


President Obama Visits New Orleans


 
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3430> Tomorrow, President Obama will
make good on a campaign promise by visiting New Orleans
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3431>  to survey our recovery from the
2005 hurricanes. Though the President's trip is shorter
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3432>  than Sen. Landrieu would have
preferred, she is encouraged that he is coming to see first-hand the
resiliancy of Louisianians still struggling to rebuild the Gulf Coast.

The President's visit is also important in drawing attention to just how
much work lays ahead in the recovery. Senator Landrieu addressed this point
in a discussion
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3433>  this morning with WBOK's Gerod
Stevens, and during an appearance on CSPAN's Washington Journal. But to make
sure crucial issues are not overlooked, Senator Landrieu also recorded a
video address highlighting four areas that are still in need of attention:
coastal erosion, housing, education and health care.

To watch the senator's address, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3430> .


In Other News...


Senator Landrieu is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship, and penned an editorial in last Friday's Wall Street
Jorunal
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3434>  detailing the struggles that
small businesses face in providing health care to their workers. Today, she
continued to highlight these concerns during an interview with CNBC, where
she discussed cost containment measures
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3435>  in the Baucus bill. As Chair of
the Small Business Committee, Senator Landrieu recognizes the role small
businesses play in our economy, and is committed to ensuring that the health
care bill currently under consideration will not unduly burden business
owners.

The Senator also called in to Jeff Crouere's radio program, Ringside
Politics with a Punch, to discuss health care and President Obama's upcoming
trip to New Orleans. To listen in, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047761.4945.6&gen=1&mailing_linkid=3436> .