About Us

The Health Care for America Education Fund is the 501c3 partner to Health Care for America Now, a national grassroots campaign that organized millions of Americans to win a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all.

In 2009, we brought together community organizers, nurses, doctors, small business owners, faith-based groups, organizations of people of color, and seniors who believed it was time we had an American solution that provides quality, affordable health care for everyone. Here’s our story:

When Marcelas Owens lost his mother to a disease that could have been controlled if she could afford health insurance, he took his story to public events and private meetings with legislators. Marcelas’ story was compelling, but it wasn’t enough. Marcelas and others like him needed backup to win over the public and members of Congress.

Help emerged in 2008 with the formation of HCAN and HCAEF. In only a few months, HCAN became the largest single-issue political coalition in modern history. Our goal was to pass quality, affordable health care we can all count on, and we did the job.

In the course of our 20-month campaign, HCAN and HCAEF:

  • Organized 10,000 people to rally and lobby Congress on June 25, 2009
  • Orchestrated a demonstration with 5,000 people outside an insurance industry meeting on March 9, 2010.
  • Generated 800,000 phone calls and 605,000 faxes to members of Congress
  • Delivered 356,000 petition signatures to Capitol Hill
  • Held more than 890 local events attended by tens of thousands of supporters
  • Employed 92 field staff and field managers in 44 states to lead state coalitions that changed attitudes, mobilized action, educated lawmakers and created change.
  • Developed the Main Street Alliance, the small-business focused arm of the organization that employs 13 organizers in 11 states
  • Launched in July 2008 with press events in 53 cities in 38 states
  • Drew more than 5,000 people to 340 house parties in 180 cities
  • Generated more than 70,000 calls to policymakers on a national call-in day in July 2009
  • Held 200 mobilization events nationwide involving 15,000 people and 40 Members of Congress in April 2009
  • Released a series of state-by-state reports on the lack of insurance industry competition, premium affordability, racial and ethnic disparities in health status and health care, the state-by-state impact of health reform on state budgets, false justifications of premium increases, huge profit gains in 2009, medical loss ratios, health insurance industry abuses and insurance company CEO pay
  • Held more than 50 “Sick of It” actions in 32 states to express the public’s displeasure with insurance company profits and maltreatment of patients.

Recognized as a powerful force by partners and opponents alike, HCAN was identified in November 2009 as one of the six most influential players in health care reform alongside establishment players the AARP, the American Medical Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, PhRMA, and the American Hospital Association. Now HCAEF is working to:

  • Assist with implementation efforts so that those who need services will receive them;
  • Help the public understand health care reform benefits;
  • Conduct research on components of the bill to make sure it is working as efficiently as possible; and
  • Conduct grassroots organizing and coalition-building.

Make no mistake: The fight for quality, affordable health care continues, and HCAN and HCAEF will be leading the charge.

What about Marcelas? Now 11 years old, Marcelas realized his goal of health care reform and proudly stood next to President Obama on March 23, 2010, when he signed the bill into law.

For more information on the Health Care for America Education Fund, please contact Shadia Garrison at 202-587-1656 or by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).