• Many hardworking, motivated people happen to be uninsured.
• Every elected leader is accountable to the voters
• Access to health care is a right, not a privilege.

We Are the Uninsured is composed of volunteer members who collectively support the beliefs listed in this Platform:

Many hardworking, motivated people happen to be uninsured. The purpose of this group is to bring community members together and let the voice of the uninsured be heard loudly, clearly and collectively. The group aims to bust myths on who the uninsured are. A principle way of doing this is by group members sharing their own stories.

Elected leaders at the city, county, state, and national level were hired by, and are accountable to, the people who voted them into office. It is the job of an elected leader to make decisions in the best interest of the people they represent. It is the job of the people to be registered and educated voters, and to actively educate their elected leaders on how to best represent them. We Are the Uninsured does this by holding legislative events, meetings, and regularly communicating with elected leaders and by registering community members to vote.

The work of We Are the Uninsured is focused on bringing the voice of the uninsured to public policy, discussions, and advocacy around health care reform, not on rallying behind a specific solution. The group's individual members are encouraged to come to their own decision on proposed health care reform legislation. Education on proposed solutions and legislation regularly takes place at the group's meetings.

The collective voice of members of We Are the Uninsured is its single most valuable asset. To achieve this, all members are equally valued as participants. The group is charged with running its meetings in an egalitarian way.

Access to health care is a right, not a privilege. All Americans, regardless of income, should have access to quality health care. Healthy community members lead to a healthy community where more people can contribute their best. Healthy parents can raise healthy children.

Membership in We Are the Uninsured is open to all uninsured people, under-insured and insured people who wish to support its efforts. The group was created out of the health care advocacy program of Neighborhood Family Practice Community Health Center in Cleveland Ohio. Meetings are held at the Practice's main office on Cleveland's Westside, but the efforts of this group will grow stronger as it grows to include new members, from any geographic location.

For more information please contact Peggi Cella at 216-281-8945, ext 260 or Rowena Ventura, at ext. 205.