Healthcare and employer groups publish principles to protect patients and achieve universal coverage – InsuranceNewsNet

CHICAGO, Illinois, February 11th — That Blue Cross Blue Shield Association issued the following joint press release on February 10, 2021:

A broad coalition of health and employer groups called for universal health coverage by expanding financial assistance to consumers, strengthening enrollment and outreach efforts and taking further steps to protect those who have lost or are at risk of losing employer-based coverage due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Affordable Coverage Coalition includes groups representing the nation’s physicians, hospitals, employers, and health insurance providers, which collectively serve hundreds of millions of U.S. patients, consumers, and employers. The shared commitment of such a wide range of interests is an important milestone on the road to universal coverage, which has remained an elusive goal in U.S Health system.

“While we sometimes disagree on important issues in health care, we agree that Americans deserve a stable health care market that provides access to high-quality care and affordable coverage for all,” the organizations said in a joint statement of principles. “Achieving universal coverage is particularly critical as we strive to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and work to tackle long-standing inequalities in health access and outcomes.”

Kim Keck, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association said, “While the country has made tremendous progress in expanding coverage over the last decade, we need to close the remaining gaps. Having health coverage means people can get the care they need when they need it. , so they can live healthier and safer lives. “

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The groups included in the coalition are: America’s Health Insurance Plans, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Benefits Council, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Federation of American Hospitalsand US Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations support the following steps to make health coverage more accessible and affordable:

* Protect Americans who have lost or are at risk of losing health coverage from their employer from becoming uninsured.

* Make ACA premium tax deductions and cost-sharing reductions more generous and extend eligibility to them.

* Establish an affordable insurance fund to support unexpectedly high costs of caring for those with serious health conditions or to otherwise lower premiums or cost sharing for ACA marketplace entrants.

* Restore federal funding for outreach and enrollment programs.

* Automatically enroll and renew individuals eligible for Medicaid and premium-free ACA marketing plans.

* Provide incentives for additional states to expand Medicaid to close the low-income coverage gap.

Read the whole principle: https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn720/bcbsprogresshealth/2021/ACC%20Principles%20Final.%202.10.21.pdf