Uninsured Americans are the Real Health Care Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The president of the United States Chamber of Commerce called upon policymakers to address the problem of record numbers of Americans without basic health insurance, speaking before a national conference on health care coverage today.

"Instead of tinkering with the benefits of those with health insurance, we must focus on ways to extend coverage to the 44 million Americans without it," said Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Solutions to expand access to coverage should build upon the successes of the employer-based system."

The Chamber advocates strengthening and expanding the current system through a number of initiatives including: tax incentives for individuals who buy their own health insurance, pooled purchasing under ERISA for small businesses and the self-employed, and expanded use of medical spending accounts. The Chamber also warned against expanding liability for health care decisions to health plans and the employers that sponsor them, and pressed for medical liability reform.

Employer-based groups dominate the private health insurance market and provide fundamental financial security for more than 150 million workers and their families, according to the Chamber. Health care cost and coverage solutions should preserve the employer-based system, not replace it.

"It would be foolish to dismantle this system through outright change to the law – or, worse, through the unintended consequences of misguided legislation," said Donohue. "American business has a long record showing that more litigation leads to higher costs and fewer options when all is said and done. It's time to acknowledge the truth of this fact."

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

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