PORTSMOUTH, NH - More than 450 of SEIU's New Hampshire activists came out to a town hall meeting with President Obama to make sure their voices were heard about the importance of passing health insurance reform that makes healthcare affordable for all Americans.

My family pays more than 10 percent of our income on health insurance," said Jeanne Latulippe, owner of East Derry School of Music in Derry, NH. "Over the past few years, we have seen our premiums go up again and again. Something has to happen to promote competition that will make health insurance affordable for families like mine." Latulippe attended the town hall meeting with her 12-year-old daughter.

Outside the town hall meeting, the hundreds of New Hampshire healthcare activists held posters and chanted slogans in support of comprehensive healthcare reform. Insurance companies that refuse to cover people with pre-existing conditions - the theme of the town hall meeting - was an issue of particular importance to many activists.

"Health insurance reform should not be about scoring political points. It's about people's lives. It's about people's businesses. It's about our country's future," said Laura Mick of Manchester, NH who was born with a cyst and water around her brain and has been denied private health insurance because she has a pre-existing condition.. "I have health insurance through the New Hampshire Health Plan, but I have a $10,000 deductible, have to pay $100 a month in premiums and still cannot choose which doctor I see."

Over the past year, SEIU Change that Works has taken part in thousands of events across the country promoting health insurance reform that puts patients back in control of their healthcare. SEIU is working to help hardworking Americans engage with their elected leaders over the Congressional August Recess period to have a constructive dialogue about the need for healthcare reform and what that reform should be.

Earlier this year, SEIU launched "Change That Works," a state-by-state effort to bring economic relief to millions across the country, help fix the nation's broken healthcare system and guarantee workers can freely decide whether to join with their coworkers in a union.

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

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