In Memory of Billy Koehler

In her last post, Georgeanne Koehler shared with you part of her brother Billy's story. Billy had a life-threatening heart arrythmia, but didn't have health insurance to get the battery in his defibrillator changed.

Billy's story has become all to common in America. Working people struggling just to stay in their homes, have given up all hope for getting the health care they need to survive.

That's certainly the point Billy reached. Watch the rest of his story here:

Billy's experience shows that relying solely on our employers to provide us with insurance is the main reason so many of us go without health care, and the danger it puts us in.

But we shouldn't lose hope. We can fix our health care system by creating a public health insurance plan as part of a larger reform package. A public option will allow those with insurance to keep it if they like it, but allow those who don't currently have insurance to get it.

So in memory of Billy Koehler, sign this petition to your representatives. Tell them you want them to pass health care reform with a public insurance option this year.