CWA: House Gets It Right on Health Care Reform

CWA commended House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House leadership as they introduced a comprehensive health care reform bill today.

"The House of Representatives health care proposal gets it right. Rather than making those employers that already pay toward their workers health coverage pay more, it requires employers that don't pay to pay their fair share. There is no tax on workers' health care plans in the House bill, unlike the Senate version which currently is asking working and middle income families to finance health care reform," said CWA President Larry Cohen.

The House bill will:

• Require most employers – with an exemption for small businesses -- to share in the responsibility for financing health care coverage.
• Help continue coverage for pre-Medicare retirees.
• Extend health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured persons, guaranteeing that most Americans have quality, affordable coverage.
• Provide substantial subsidies to help make coverage more affordable for middle income families, and expand Medicaid to guarantee that coverage will be affordable for lower income persons.
• Implement insurance market reforms to prevent individuals from being denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
• Reduce costs for individuals and small businesses by eliminating uncompensated care, reforming the delivery and provider payment systems, and establishing a national exchange to facilitate cost effective coverage.
• Establish a robust public insurance option to ensure there is adequate competition in all areas of the country, thereby holding down rates charged by private insurers.