UCC Universal Health Care Ministry

The mission of the UCC Universal Health Care Ministry Team is to fulfill the goal set forth in the Resolution “Universal Health Care/Universal Health Care coverage in CT” adopted October 20, 2007 at the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ Fall Annual Meeting: “to ensure that quality, effective and affordable health care is available to all the residents of Connecticut.”

The tasks of the UCC Universal Health Care Ministry Team are:

• to educate congregations and parishioners about state and national efforts to create an affordable, quality health care system for all;
• to provide opportunities to congregations and parishioners to participate in activities where their voices are included in these discussions; and
• to collaborate and cooperate in every way possible with the many and various state and national organizations, associations and interfaith efforts working on this issue.

In partnership with the Christian Activities Council, the Universal Health Care Ministry Team collaborates with the Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care to carry out this mission.

Health Care Ministry News

Advocates Applaud as US Supreme Court Upholds Core of Affordable Care Act

HARTFORD -- Universal health care advocates celebrated today's 5-4 ruling by the United States Supreme Court, which upheld the core of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. In a press conference held at the Connecticut Legislative Office Building in Hartford, the Rev. Damaris Whittaker spoke on behalf of the Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care, saying, "While we feel that we really have achieved a great victory... we recognize that we have a lot of work to do... Change has come!" 06/28/2012

Health Insurance Exchange Bill Needs Help in CT Senate

HARTFORD -- The Health Insurance Exchange fix bill (House Bill 5013), which passed unanimously in the state House of Representatives last week and which will add consumer and small business voices to the Health Insurance Exchange Board, has become victim to all the competing tensions and power plays at the Capitol. "It's a great bill," said the Christian Activities Council's Health Care Organizer, Michele Mudrick, "a real step forward in shifting the balance of power from insurance companies to people, which is a key part of health reform." 05/07/2012

Health Care Advocates Urge Reform to Legislators and Stockholders

HARTFORD -- Two hundred state residents came to the Capitol on Wednesday, according to organizers, meeting with legislators and raising their voices over excessive compensation for an insurance executive. They had good news early in the afternoon, when they learned that the House of Representatives had passed a bill adding four additional seats to the Health Insurance Exchange Board and giving a vote to the state's Healthcare Advocate, Victoria Veltri. 04/27/2012

Praying -- and Testifying -- for Health Care

HARTFORD -- Members of the Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care gathered once again to pray as the Sustinet Healthcare Cabinet met in the state Capitol building. Petitions rose in Spanish and English, and out of several spiritual traditions, as members of the Cabinet moved by to take their seats in the Old Appropriations Room. 04/10/2012

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