U.S. Chamber: New Data Confirms That Costs Will Rise with Proposed Health Care Reforms

Josten Says Oliver Wyman Data Underscores Need to Start Over

WASHINGTON, D.C.—R. Bruce Josten, executive vice president of Government Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today issued the following statement regarding a recently issued report by Oliver Wyman, Inc. that estimates the current Senate health care bill will increase premiums for individuals by 54% and for small businesses by 20% over five years.

"While health care reform is an imperative, employers have widespread and longstanding concerns that current proposed reforms would make coverage more expensive for American consumers and businesses, especially at a time of recession and double-digit unemployment.

"The new Oliver Wyman data validates multiple existing analyses which show that proposed reforms will increase premiums for individuals and small businesses and fail to make coverage more affordable.

"Members of Congress should carefully review the Oliver Wyman report which the Chamber believes underscores the need for Congress to start over.

"Reforming our health care system is not a choice, it's an imperative, but the overriding goal should be to make coverage more affordable for all Americans. As the Oliver Wyman data demonstrates, the Senate bill fails to achieve that goal."

The U.S. Chamber 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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