Chamber Urges Lawmakers to Protect Employer Health Care Framework

WASHINGTON, DC—As the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions met today to discuss the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the United States Chamber of Commerce warned that any attempts to erode the act could be devastating for the tens of millions of Americans who receive their health coverage through employer-sponsored plans.

"Today, employers voluntarily provide over 160 million workers, retirees, and their families with comprehensive health care coverage – and are able to do so through the national framework provided for by ERISA," said Bruce Josten, Chamber executive vice president. "This crucial law allows employers to achieve greater bargaining power, economies of scale, and administrative efficiencies when designing health benefits plans for their employees who reside and work in multiple states."

States have imposed mandate after mandate, which only drive up the cost of insurance plans. ERISA helps to eliminate the threat of an inconsistent patchwork of state laws so that employers can provide similar benefits to their employees regardless of where they live. ERISA preemption ensures national health plan uniformity across state lines and enables tens of millions of Americans to receive consistent, quality and accessible health benefits. Imposing changes to this law, no matter how well intentioned, will increase those costs and lead to reduced coverage for employees.

"While the states are examining and enacting insurance reform to address the problem of the uninsured, we want to encourage them to find solutions that will offer more choice, options and competition in their markets without encroaching on employer-sponsored ERISA plans," said Josten. "The Chamber urges Congress to continue to recognize the vital role ERISA plays in our health care system and protect against any attempts to violate it."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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