Lieberman Co-Sponsors Re-Introduction of Healthy Americans Act

Press Release

Lieberman Co-Sponsors Re-Introduction of Healthy Americans Act

Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), along with 12 cosponsors, re-introduced sweeping bipartisan legislation that would guarantee every citizen affordable health insurance, regardless of income, and significantly improve access to quality medical treatments. The Healthy Americans Act would comprehensively reform the health care system by providing universal coverage through a centrally financed system of private health insurance. The fiscally responsible legislation reverses the current trend in health care costs and provides much-needed relief for families and businesses.

"I am supporting this bi-partisan legislation because it is unacceptable that Americans lack access to affordable health care," said Lieberman. "This important proposal will ease the burden of health care costs for businesses while making insurance more accessible. I will work hard to pass legislation to address this crisis in our health care system."

In Connecticut, 325,000 residents—50,000 of whom are children—are uninsured. Two-thirds of Connecticut's uninsured are hard-working citizens who do not have health insurance because their employers cannot afford to provide it. Over the last 8 years, the cost of health coverage has risen 81 percent, while income has risen only 10 percent. The recent rise in unemployment further highlights the need to provide every citizen health insurance, regardless of employment.

Under the proposed plan, comprehensive coverage policies would be available through regional markets, harnessing the power of competition and providing individuals with greater choice and better value. Insurance companies will be required to offer a generous benefits package, similar to what federal employees receive. Coverage could not be denied, and insurance companies could not charge higher premiums because of a person's health status, occupation, gender, genetic information, or age.

The Healthy Americans Act would implement a standard health care tax deduction and a system of subsidies in order to guarantee that all Americans can afford quality health coverage. Last year, after analyzing the Healthy Americans Act, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation released a report that found that HAA would be roughly budget neutral in 2014 and would—in subsequent years—generate surpluses. An independent analysis of the Healthy Americans Act was also conducted by the non-partisan Lewin Group, which estimates that—even with covering all Americans—the Healthy Americans Act could save more than $1.5 trillion in health care spending over the next 10 years.

The list of co-sponsors includes: U.S Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Bennett (R-UT), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

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