House Health Reform Bill Would Cover Millions—Affordably
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Today, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a comprehensive reform bill that would guarantee coverage for 96 percent of the U.S. public.
Among other things, the bill, H.R. 3962, includes a public option, expands Medicaid coverage to families who earn up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level, provides help for middle-class families to get coverage and sets tough new rules for insurers, making sure that no one can be denied care or be rejected from coverage because of pre-existing conditions. It’s fairly funded through a combination of employer responsibility, cost savings and a surtax on the extremely wealthy—and does not get its funding from taxes on middle-class workers’ benefits. All that, and it will reduce the deficit in the long term.
It’s the kind of change America voted for last fall. You can read the full bill here.
Income Can’t Keep Up with Health Care Cost Increases
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Here’s more evidence why health care reform and controlling soaring health care costs is so desperately needed to help working families.
In Indiana, for example, between 2000 and 2009, the cost of a family health care premium provided by an employer increased 116.6 percent, but working families’ median income rose just 14.9 percent. In Pennsylvania, premiums were up 95.2 cent and income 17.5 percent.
Similar figures are repeated in state after state, according to a new study by Families USA.
But here’s the kicker: All that extra money going to the insurance companies isn’t buying more coverage. Benefits have been reduced and workers are paying higher deductibles and co-pays.
Got Health Insurance? You’re Paying More Than $1,000/Year in a Hidden Tax
If you and your family have health insurance, you’re paying more than $1,000 a year in a “hidden tax” that’s part of your premium costs.
A new study by the health care advocacy group Families USA finds this $1,017 “undisclosed surcharge” is the cost of caring for the nation’s more than 46 million—and growing—uninsured.
Private health insurance premiums are higher, at least in part, because uninsured people who receive health care often cannot afford to pay the full amount themselves. The costs of this uncompensated care are shifted to those who have insurance, ultimately resulting in higher insurance premiums for businesses and families.
One-Third of Americans Went Without Health Care in Past 2 Years
Nearly 87 million people—more than one-third all Americans under age 65—were without health insurance for at least part of the past two years. Most of the uninsured came from working families.
This compelling new evidence on the need for comprehensive health care reform, including coverage for all, is contained in a new report by the health care advocacy group, Families USA.
The report, “Americans at Risk,” found that most of the uninsured lacked coverage for lengthy periods of time: 74.5 percent were uninsured for at least six months, and six in 10 were uninsured for nine months or more. More than half (52 percent) of individuals and families who went without health insurance had incomes between the federal poverty level and twice the poverty level—between $21,200 and $42,400.
14,000 Insured Lose Health Coverage Every Day
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In December and January, as the nation’s unemployment rate shot upward—hitting 7.6 percent in January—the number of Americans without health insurance neared the 50-million mark.
Some 14,000 people a day, nearly 100,000 a week, lost their health insurance during that two-month span, according to a forthcoming analysis by James Kvaal and Ben Furnas, reports the Center for American Progress’ Wonk Room.
The growing number of working families that are losing their health care coverage highlights the need for swift action on comprehensive health care reform.
