A Blueprint for Health Care Reform

CWA Priorities Would Protect Workers and Retirees, Guarantee Choice of Plans, Fight Taxes on Benefits

Everyone agrees that our health care system is in critical condition. Now, for the first time in decades, there's a real opportunity for health care reform that will meet the needs of working families and retirees.

It won't be easy. We've already seen pushback from some interests with deep pockets that have fought against real reform for years.

CWA has set out four key priorities for reform that will protect members' current benefits, reduce costs, cover the uninsured and improve quality. Many unions and other advocates for change share our vision, and together, we can win real reform for all.

"These priorities are fundamental," CWA Executive Vice President Annie Hill said. "We can argue about the details but we can't and won't compromise our basic principles."

• Priority No. 1
  Employers must be responsible for covering their workers, or else contribute to a public trust that covers those without employer coverage. This builds on our current system and means that CWA members will be able to keep the health benefits and insurance plans that we have won.
  
  It also means that companies that now are health care freeloaders because they don't provide coverage for their employees or spouses will be paying their fair share.
  
  
• Priority No. 2
  Guarantee coverage for pre-Medicare retirees. Workers who lose their jobs or retire early because of layoffs or medical conditions all too often lose their health care benefits, just when they need them most.
  
  Options to ensure coverage for members of this group must be a part of any health care plan.
  
  
• Priority No. 3
  Guarantee people a choice of private and public health insurance plans. Workers would be covered by their employer or be able to choose from several private plans, and also have the option of choosing a public health insurance plan similar to Medicare.
  
  
• Priority No. 4
  No taxation of health care benefits for working families. Making employer-provided health benefits part of a family's taxable income will shift a huge tax increase to workers and employers, penalize those who already have insurance and result in many people losing their health care coverage.