SEIU: Senate Finance Committee Must Take Up the Challenge to Guarantee Every American Affordable Healthcare

September 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Andy Stern released the following statement on the Senate Finance Committee's introduction of the America's Healthy Future Act.

"We are closer than ever before in making health insurance reform a reality. Four out of five Congressional committees have drafted, debated, voted on and passed legislation to fix healthcare with strong affordability provisions, shared responsibility -- for individuals and employers -- and the choice of a public option. Now, the Senate Finance Committee is on the verge of taking us one step closer. We believe the Committee should use this process as an opportunity to amend the draft bill, so that it meets this same high standard.

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"Senator Baucus has shown a strong commitment to reforming our broken healthcare system this year. And while he continued to push for bipartisanship, Republicans continued to just say 'no'. No to meaningful comprehensive reform. No to people like Pat Dejong, Roberta Howard, Dan Broderick, and the millions like them who have fallen victim to the skyrocketing costs of the status quo. Pat lost her family's ranch after mounting medical debt. Roberta lost her health insurance after losing her job and was diagnosed with cancer just seven days later. And Dan lost his wife Sharon after she was denied health insurance coverage because of a 'pre-existing condition' then developed cancer."

Like the Senate Health Education Labor and Pension Committee's bill and the House bills, the Senate Finance draft takes positive steps toward ending the insurance industry's stranglehold on our healthcare system: pre-existing conditions covered; no more dropping of patients because they're too sick; and an end to life time limits on benefits. But insurance reforms alone are not enough to ensure that Pat, Roberta, Dan, and all Americans have access to affordable quality care.

Key provisions that must be improved, include:

* Affordability: Affordability provisions -- out of pocket protections and tax credits to help low and moderate income families -- should be strengthened so that everyone has access to care they can afford.

* Employer Responsibility: While there is broad agreement on the need for shared responsibility among individuals, employers and government, the lack of real employer responsibility is a concern.

* Strong Public Option: It is unclear how the co-op model can truly compete with for-profit insurance companies - a strong public health insurance option would level the playing field and provide real competition, plus accountability.

* Fair Taxation: Like the President has said, this bill must be fully paid for in a responsible way; however, a tax on high cost plans will unfairly burden older workers and workers in high-cost states.

"While the Senate Finance Committee bill takes some good first steps, there are serious flaws the Committee must address," said Stern. "We are confident that when a bill goes to the Senate Floor, every American will be able to count on quality care at a price they can afford. For if we don't take up this challenge and improve the bill, we will have let down Pat, Roberta, and Dan and working Americans across this country who expect to see the change they voted for delivered."

Source: SEIU