Record Number of Americans Without Health Insurance Will Grow Even Larger

WASHINGTON – While a record 44 million Americans go without any health insurance coverage at all, Congress plans debate on misguided proposals that will add to the ranks of the uninsured.

"It is time for Congress to address the real health care crisis in this country – the growing number of people who are completely outside the system," said Kate Sullivan, the Chamber's Manager for Health Care Policy. "The new data released today by the Census Bureau underscores the need to take action now."

Among proposals to be debated in the U.S. House of Representatives this week are several that would saddle business with costly new mandates and expanded liability, accelerating the numbers of uninsured Americans. Instead, the Chamber urges members of Congress to begin the debate with meaningful proposals that will expand access to affordable coverage for individuals and small business owners.

"Proposals like the Talent-Shadegg 'Quality Care for the Uninsured Act' go a long way to addressing the concerns of both employees and employers about quality of care, access and affordability," emphasized Sullivan. In particular, the Chamber strongly supports efforts to improve access to health care for small businesses and their employees by allowing pooled purchasing.

"Given that the majority of employees work for small businesses today and health benefits are workers' number one priority, it's unbelievable Congress hasn't enacted this market-based reform sooner," Sullivan said.

The Chamber also renewed its call for the Congress to eliminate the tax code bias against self-employed Americans and individuals who buy their own health coverage by allowing the same full deduction for health care expenses as employers.

The United States Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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