10Minutes on health reform under Obama

Download 10Minutes on health reform under Obama

160 million Americans receive their health insurance benefits through their employers. In the coming year, large employers could face major changes in this area proposed by President Obama and members of the Democratic Congress.

The reforms could curb the rising cost of healthcare purchased by government and private employers by introducing new programs and regulations. Controlling costs would benefit private employers, which on average pay 80% of the cost of worker health benefits. In addition, many have large retiree health benefit liabilities.

Highlights

• The Obama administration has pledged to achieve universal health coverage.
• Broader insurance coverage could reduce cost-shifting. For example, nearly one in four dollars spent on hospital services by private payers and employers pays for unpaid costs incurred by the uninsured, Medicare and Medicaid.
• One way to achieve universal coverage is to penalize large employers that do not provide health insurance to their workers.