|
Thursday, September 2, 2010 |  |
 |
|
|
||
|
Resources on Health Reform Client Resource Center Highlights Issues Grassroots Legislative Tools Legislative Tracking Newsletters HUPAC |
|
|
||
Financing Health Reform
We know that an investment in change is required to see positive reform results, and that there will likely be many actions necessary to raise the revenues needed to make sure that all Americans have access to affordable and high-quality health care coverage. The membership of NAHU is committed to financing health reform in a responsible way that improves the health of American citizens and does not limit people's options for coverage. NAHU believes that policymakers should not attempt to finance health care reform on the backs of Americans who already are doing the responsible thing and purchasing private health insurance coverage and creating American jobs as small business owners. This would include financing reform through an excise tax on private coverage, cuts to the private Medicare Advantage program, changes to the existing federal tax exclusion for employer-provided health insurance and changes to the tax status of account-based health coverage options. Instead, it is wholly appropriate for Congress to consider health-related excise taxes in financing health reform that can help deliver revenue and simultaneously discourage unhealthy lifestyles that are a major component in fueling growing health care costs.NAHU also feels strongly that the federal government should provide adequate help to those who truly cannot afford to purchase private health insurance coverage or need some degree of assistance towards the cost of private coverage premiums, but they should do so in a financially prudent manner.
Financing efforts for health reform must begin by addressing the true underlying problem with our existing system: the cost of medical care. Bending the growth curve of health delivery costs and creating and synthesizing greater efficiencies in the delivery of medical care is the most important step toward making insurance coverage more affordable and our health system sustainable in the long term.
NAHU Issue Summaries on Responsible Means Financing Reform
NAHU's Ideas on How to Responsibly Finance Health Reform
Financing Health Reform Issue Summary
Our issue summary on how our government can provide needy Americans with assistance toward the cost of private coverage premiums in a financially responsible way.
NAHU's key talking points as to why employer-provided group health insurance benefits should continue to be excluded from taxable income for all Americans.
The Tax Code and Health Insurance Coverage
NAHU's June 2009 white paper discussing issues related to changing the federal tax exclusion.
Content copyright © 1998-2010 National Association of Health Underwriters. All rights reserved.
National Association of Health Underwriters · 2000 North 14th Street, Suite 450 · Arlington, VA 22201
703.276.0220 · fax 703.841.7797 · info@nahu.org