From The Hartford Courant, 4/30/05:
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-aetna0430.artapr30,0,7411310.story?coll=hc-headlines-business
Aetna Favors Coverage Mandate
First Major Insurer To Back Concept Of Health Plans For All
April 30, 2005
By DIANE LEVICK, Courant Staff Writer
Aetna announced Friday it favors a government mandate on all people to
obtain basic health insurance - the first time a national health
insurer has publicly endorsed the concept.
The proposal, which would include subsidies to help low-income people
afford coverage, is just one tool to trim the ranks of the 45 million
uninsured, Aetna chief executive Dr. John W. Rowe told the annual
shareholder meeting in Philadelphia Friday.
The problem of the uninsured is "a national embarrassment," said Rowe,
who has championed other provocative health care policy issues.
"If structured properly," Rowe said, "an individual mandate has the
potential to expand access to quality health care and to ease the
financial crisis facing the health care system."
______________________________________________________
An idea worth exploring.
Harry
.
|
