Leading payer organizations have raised the pitch for making universal health coverage a reality, saying Americans deserve a stable health care market. Keeping aside their differences on multiple issues, many payers have unanimously called for giving all Americans access to high-quality care and affordable coverage. Organizations like Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, American Benefits Council, America’s Health Insurance Plans, and the US Chamber of Commerce have even outlined steps to achieve this.
- The organizations said the need for universal coverage has gained more significance in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Let’s work together on solutions that are broadly applicable across all types of health insurance – employer coverage, individual market and public programs – to deliver the access to care and health outcomes that the American people deserve,” they said.
- To have universal coverage, they highlighted the importance of tax credits and cost-sharing reductions tied to health insurance. Through this, policymakers can overcome the family glitch, the subsidy cliff, and improve financial aid for young enrollees, they feel.
- They also called for a federal funding mechanism to offer financial support to those with high-cost conditions. Another step outlined by payers is the need for more federal funding for outreach and enrollment programs.
- The organizations also emphasized the need for automatic enrollment. They pitched for automatically enrolling individuals who qualify in addition to automatically renewing Medicaid and premium-free coverage.
- They further recommended expanding federal coverage by Congress and funding a three-year 100 percent match for Medicaid expansion.
- Their last step to achieving universal coverage focuses on preventing future uninsurance increases. They feel decreasing current uninsurance is not enough.