The president and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association told people assembled at the White House Health Care Summit that an individual mandate for health insurance coverage would help ensure everyone was covered.
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Scott Serota
Scott Serota, speaking at the White House Health Care Summit today (March 4), said an individual mandate for health insurance would better serve to help get the 45.5 million lacking health insurance covered than the “unsustainable” alternatives, including a government program, often called either universal health care or a single-payer system, covering all Americans.
“We need to get employees in and we need to get everyone in,” Serota said to a group of legislators, industry representatives and others called together by President Barack Obama for the afternoon summit in Washington, D.C.
He added that the private insurer system should remain. “We can do it with the existing structure, by not adding to it,” Serota said. The leader of the national organization represents the 37 Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliates around the country said that if an individual mandate were implemented, the industry could “eliminate objectionable underwriting practices.”
Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, suggested that “every individual, institution and enterprise is responsible” for ensuring everyone has health coverage.
He cautioned against a yes or no debate over mandates.
“The mandate/no mandate discussion sets up a false choice,” he said. “We need to look at this in another way.”
Several legislators at one of the breakout sessions indicated concern over the word “mandate,” saying they would like to find another word for it.
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), ranking member of the U.S. House Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, said legislators need to find a “third way” to resolve the ongoing health crisis.
“We are going to have to go after the big part one way while we go after the third part another way,” Enzi said.
The success of Medicare Part D in Wyoming, where 49 plans bid for contracts, shows that a public program could work, Enzi said, noting his “surprise” at the number of companies that bid for the work in his home state.
Speaking about his views on the health reform, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said, “I just can’t see a single-payer system under current circumstances.” He suggested a closer look at the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a federal program to insure poor children.
“It’s the insurance industry that must explain itself,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (R-Ill.). “When we talk about mandates, we have to talk about what you are buying.”
Schakowsky expressed concern for people who can only afford a high-deductible health plan, saying, “There are millions who are insured, but don’t have access to health care.”
Blue Cross leader says individual health insurance mandate would help via IFAwebnews.com .
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