Healthcare Reform
A message from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association that appeared in The Wall Street Journal and USA Today on September 9, 2009.
As Congress returns to Washington, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies want to reaffirm our long-standing commitment to enacting comprehensive bipartisan reform of the healthcare system this year.
We have brought to the table extensive solutions, including changes to our own industry, to ensure everyone has coverage, costs are brought under control and quality is improved.
We envision a reformed system where:
- All Americans have health coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions.
- Government subsidies help support a personal responsibility requirement to obtain and maintain health coverage.
- It is easier for individuals and small businesses to shop, compare and enroll in coverage.
- Payments for healthcare services are tied to quality outcomes and patient safety.
- Individuals are healthier, with a greater focus on wellness and better management of chronic conditions.
We support reforms that make the market work for everyone, by bringing more people in rather than creating a new government-run health plan that would cause millions of Americans to lose their private coverage.
For healthcare reform to work, it must include more than insurance reforms. Comprehensive reform also must improve quality, rein in rising costs and ensure everyone has coverage. This is the only way healthcare reform will be sustainable in the future.
Our support for market-based solutions stems from our long history of service to our communities. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies were created by local community leaders to provide affordable hospital and doctor services for their citizens and, 80 years later, our customers are still our neighbors. We provide our members — 100 million individuals in every ZIP code across America — access to quality healthcare and the largest provider networks in the country. More than 90 percent of the nation's hospitals and 80 percent of all physicians are in our networks.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to continuing to advance the debate until we succeed at securing a healthcare system that meets the needs of all Americans, today and for future generations.
Tell Congress to create a healthcare system that works for all Americans.
Learn more about our Pathway proposal, insurance/market reform and delivery system reform.
Read about Blue Companies across the country that have been introducing programs to their communities in support of improved healthcare quality, more affordable care and coverage for all at BlueAdvocacy.org.
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Impact of Changing Age Rating Bands in "America's Healthy Future Act of 2009"
The health care reform legislation under consideration in the Senate Finance Committee (the “America Healthy Future Act of 2009” Chairman’s Mark) includes health insurance reforms that would discontinue rating on health status, eliminate the use of gender and several other rating factors, and set limits on age rating.
September 23, 2009
