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SIIA Sees Challenges to Employer-Based Health Care Regardless of Which Candidate Wins the Presidency PHOENIX (Oct. 8, 2008) – The employer-based health care system is likely to face its greatest political challenges in 2009 regardless of which presidential candidate leads the new administration, according to leaders of the Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc. (SIIA) speaking at the organization’s 28th Annual Educational Conference & Expo.
“It used to be easy to identify our supporters in government but now it’s becoming more difficult,” said Jay Ritchie, SIIA vice president of government relations. He noted that positions of both Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain would likely have great adverse impact on employer group health care plans operated under ERISA.
Ritchie pointed out that McCain has said he would eliminate the employer-based health care system in favor of tax credits for individuals and families to purchase health care insurance, and that Obama has said he would preserve employer-based plans but apparently with new provisions that would add to employers’ expense and possibly undermine ERISA protections.
Congress, as well, appears to be in the mood to drastically change health care through various proposals including formation of a federal single payer system or inviting all Americans to join Medicare.
“The employer-based health care system appears to be this year’s easy target,” Ritchie said following SIIA’s annual Legislative & Regulatory Update to members. “We don’t think politicians generally understand the enormity of trying to replace a thriving and successful system that today provides coverage to 162 million Americans.”
SIIA leaders pledged efforts to help Congress find ways to improve health care, particularly for the 44 million Americans without health insurance, while preserving the employer-based system.
SIIA is a non-profit trade association that represents companies involved in the self-insurance/ART industry. Information about SIIA is available on-line at www.siia.org. ### |
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