Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) unveiled the “Healthy Americans Act.” on Wednesday, December 13, 2006. The proposal would provide universal health coverage to all Americans. Coverage would be at least equivalent to the coverage Members of Congress receive through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The act would be intended to provide health care that is more dependable than employment by promising constant and affordable insurance coverage. Read the complete article.
Sen. Wyden’s proposal would require the joint responsibility of individuals, employers, insurers, states and the federal government. Ultimately, the government would be responsible for ensuring that every American has, and is able to, afford health insurance.
Individual Responsibility
Adults over the age of 19 would be required to enroll themselves and all dependent children in a health plan offered by their respective state’s Health Help Agency (HHA)
Participation in various wellness, prevention and disease management programs
Employer Responsibility
Within two years, employers who currently provide employee health benefits would be required to convert health premiums into higher wages for employees
After two years (and immediately for those employers who do not currently provide employee health benefits) employers would be required to make “Employer Shared Responsibility Payments” to offset the government’s cost of ensuring each employee
Insurer Responsibility
Coverage for every individual who chooses to enroll in their plan
Would not be allowed to raise prices or deny coverage to individuals who are sick and/or have pre-existing conditions
State Responsibility
Establishment of a Health Help Agency (HHA) to effectively sell a variety of insurance plans to individuals
Ensure enrollment of all eligible individuals and impose fines upon those who do not
Federal Government Responsibility
Financially support, with the help of employers and insurers, states’ Health Help Agencies
Ensure every American receives health care by providing standard tax deductions for individuals and families
Recapture Medicare and 90 percent of Medicaid Federal DSH Funds
Financing of the proposal would require no more funding than is currently being spent by the nation on health care. The “Healthy Americans Act” would be fully paid for by spending the $2.2 trillion currently spent on the American health care system. The proposal would save $1.48 trillion over a 10-year period through cost containment strategies.
