WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Communications Workers of America applauds the collaborative effort by the three House Committees to develop a single bill that will achieve guaranteed affordable health care for all of us.

CWA commends the Committees for basing their bill on principles that lay the foundation for a fair and sustainable health care system. The bill ensures that all employers will contribute to the system, leveling the playing field among businesses by distributing financing more equitably among all employers who benefit from a healthy and insured workforce. It builds on the employment-based system, so workers can continue to get coverage through their jobs, but it also reforms the health insurance market to guarantee everyone a choice of regulated private insurers or a public insurance plan, bringing needed competition into a highly concentrated market.

"These are critical elements of real health care reform," said CWA President Larry Cohen. "Reform that includes an employer mandate is an important step to providing basic care and ending the subsidy that union and other employers, and our members, now pay to make up for the non-union, deadbeat employers that are not paying their fair share," he said.


CWA has four key priorities that health care reform legislation must address: a requirement that all employers cover their workers, coverage for pre-Medicare eligible retirees, a choice of private insurance or a public plan, and no taxes on health care benefits.

The House measure also takes two other important steps: it caps out of pocket spending for consumers, a real protection against high costs which can threaten bankruptcy, and it promises to hold costs in check by rewarding high quality, evidence-based care.

This Tri-Committee bill is ambitious and bold at a time when boldness is necessary. CWA members will continue to work for real health care reform that provides affordable health care for all.

The Communications Workers of America represents 700,000 workers in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It's one of America's fastest growing unions. CWA members work in communications, media, airlines, manufacturing, public service and health care.





CWA Communications

Candice Johnson, 202-434-1168

cjohnson@cwa-union.org

Source: Communications Workers of America