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Politicians have paid lip service to the health care cause for decades, yet 47 million Americans still live without any health coverage whatsoever. The rest of America shoulders the burden for those millions, losing up to 30% of their own health payments every month into a “black hole” of coverage for the uninsured—making up for the many employers who are unwilling or unable to provide for their employers.

A comprehensive cure for the health care crisis in America must be a top priority for our elected leaders. Health care reform should begin with these principles in mind:

• Everyone should have access to quality affordable health care, without exclusions or discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions, health status, age, race or ethnicity.
• Coverage should be portable and everyone should have a choice of doctors and other health care providers.
• Reducing waste, improving efficiencies, curbing excess profits, and focusing on preventive care can help rein in health care inflation.
• Until there is a comprehensive solution to the health care crisis, any reform efforts should not undermine those with existing coverage or further punish employers who provide coverage.

LIUNA has led the charge for affordable, comprehensive health care coverage for all Americans since its inception. Even today, union negotiators place the highest priority at the negotiating table on protecting members’ health coverage—sixty cents of every dollar’s worth of pay increase goes toward better benefits. And this dedication shows—LIUNA members are exponentially more likely to have more, and better, health coverage than non-unionized workers in the same field.

Unfortunately, it is this benefits priority that is the most vulnerable to lawmakers’ ill-conceived efforts at “health care reform.” When Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) initiated an investigation into taxing those health care benefits, LIUNA members understood that all their hard work at the negotiating table would be undone in an instant. Within the space of one week, Sen. Baucus had received over 1300 emails and 100 phone calls from members, fiercely defending their hard-won health benefits.

In a letter to Senator Baucus, LIUNA President Terry O’Sullivan wrote, “LIUNA members are outraged at the prospect of being penalized for having healthcare coverage that protects them and their families. I cannot recall another issue that has so engaged and enraged workers.”
Health care reform is essential, LIUNA members agree. But it must come without taxing working men and women who already pay too much.

Resources

Health Care Budget Deficit Calculator. Center for Economic and Policy Research.

It's Time for Health Care Reform that Controls Costs and Covers Everyone. LIUNA Action Network

America's Affordable Health Choices Act: Complete Bill Text (HR 3200).Committee on Education and Labor

America's Affordable Health Choices Act: Summary.Committee on Education and Labor

LIUNA General President Terry O'Sullivan's letter to Sen. Baucus. LIUNA

Build from What Works and Fix What Doesn't. LIUNA

How Taft-Hartley Health Care Funds Serve Millions of Families. LIUNA

Health insurance coverage by state. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Healthcare Crisis - Who's at risk? PBS.

Entitlement Reform Means Fixing the Broader Health System.Center for American Progress.