Labor & Employment Law

Women?s Chamber of Commerce Endorses Public Health Plan Option

By Mike Hall

One the largest groups of women business leaders in the nation called this week for comprehensive health care reform that includes a “a robust” public health plan option.

In a report to Congress, the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, with more than 500,000 members, writes:

Americans should also have the choice of a robust government lead a public plan to take on the insurance carriers, provide vigorous competition, and assure all Americans have access to affordable health care.

A public insurance plan option for workers and families who either have private insurance coverage or no coverage at all is one of the AFL-CIO’s key health care reform principles. It is vehemently opposed by most business groups, the private insurance industry and Republican lawmakers.

In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the group writes:

For more than a decade the American health care system has been careening towards a complete collapse reducing our quality of life, suppressing business growth and international competitiveness, and threatening our country’s security. Over the last weeks, months, and years, our members have told us of the fears, frustrations, and financial hardships they have experienced as a result of our failed health care system.

Very few modern day economic issues more directly impact both economic advancement and quality of life for American women than health care reform.

The report, “Health Care Reform: An American Values Imperative,” also calls for guaranteed access to affordable health insurance coverage, bringing an end to age and wellness discrimination, greater transparency and accountability, choice, flexibility and portability of health insurance.

Click here to read the full report.

The U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce is not connected to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposes a public plan option.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on June 26, 2009 (boomark / email).