Senator Christopher Dodd, who is presiding over the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee during the absence of Committee Chair Edward Kennedy, today released the remaining portions of the health care reform bill that the Committee will consider when the July 4th recess ends. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, about the bill:
“The Senate HELP Committee bill provides an excellent prescription for health care reform. It is designed to ensure high-quality, affordable health coverage and care for America’s families.
“The bill provides families with choices—the choice of staying with their health plan if they like it, the choice of picking other private or public coverage if they prefer, and the choice of keeping the doctors they want.
“The bill will make health coverage and care more affordable. It does so in a number of ways, most notably, by providing substantial subsidies for insurance premiums, as well as out-of-pocket protections. This way, families can get the care they need without being forced into medical bankruptcy.
“It eliminates insurance company abuses, thereby protecting people with pre-existing conditions against coverage denials and discriminatory, unaffordable premiums.
“And the bill offers families security and peace of mind by ensuring that their health coverage can never be taken away.
“The bill provides the relief that America’s families need and is therefore commendable. We at Families USA support the bill and will work with Chairman Dodd to secure its prompt passage.”
