What are the Campaign’s goals?
The mission of the Campaign for an American Solution is to build support for workable health care reform based on core principles supported by the American people: coverage, affordability, quality, value, choice and portability. We want to help facilitate a constructive conversation with Americans about how we can improve our health care system. In doing so, we hope to:
- Expand the discussion to reach a broader audience of American
- Listen carefully to Americans’ ideas and respond to what we learn
- Encourage policymakers to take action on health reform consistent with the views of the American people
Who is funding the Campaign?
The campaign is sponsored by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the national trade association for health insurance plans. AHIP’s members provide coverage to more than 200 million people.
Why is AHIP sponsoring the Campaign for an American Solution?
AHIP is sponsoring the Campaign for an American Solution because we believe the health care system needs to be reformed and the challenges are clear:
- Health care costs too much
- It’s unacceptable that 47 million Americans are uninsured
- No one should fall through the cracks of our health care system
- Losing your job shouldn’t mean losing your insurance
History has taught us that if we can’t work together we won’t achieve anything. We believe the time is right to engage in a candid conversation about the future of health care in our country. Reform that helps expand coverage to all Americans, reduces the growth rate of health care costs, and improves its quality should be grounded in the experience and ideas of many different stakeholders – including those with insurance and those without. Our campaign will listen carefully and respond to what we learn.
Why does health care need to be reformed?
There is a lot that is working well in our health care system. Americans have the widest choice of providers, treatments and health insurance plans. The country is blessed with world-class hospitals and enormously talented and dedicated physicians, nurses and other providers. We continue to lead the world in medical breakthroughs and access to the latest technology. Health insurance plans are promoting a renewed focus on keeping people healthy in the first place, by promoting prevention and wellness and offering innovative programs for those with chronic conditions.
Still, no one should be satisfied with the status quo. The rising cost of medical care puts coverage out of reach for many working families and small businesses. Sick people are falling through the cracks of our health care system. We spend more on health care than any other nation, yet patients have very little ability to compare the safety, effectiveness and value of technologies, treatments and therapies. Far too many Americans become ill from costly conditions that are entirely preventable. Common-sense reforms are long overdue.
Who can join the Campaign?
Anyone who is interested in working to improve our health care system is welcome to join the Campaign. There is no cost to join and you will never be asked to buy anything.
What do you mean by an American solution?
Although Washington may be divided on many issues, among the American people there is far more consensus on health care issues than many recognize. And we believe there is a real opportunity for meaningful reform.
The American people want the private and public sectors work together to improve health care. They want affordable private coverage and they want a strong safety net. They want access to the latest medical technologies and they also want the information they and their doctors need to determine which treatments are safest, work the best and are most cost-effective. An American solution will also have to be bipartisan in nature, with a centrist plan that brings together Democrats and Republicans.