Political Quotes

“I support the Health Insurance Reform Act, for the simple reason it will help provide more accessible and affordable health insurance to more Americans. The Health Insurance Reform Act helps those who are now unable, for reasons beyond their control, to buy health insurance. It prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals with preexisting conditions, while ensuring that individuals are not able to take unfair advantage of the system by only purchasing coverage when it is actually needed. It prevents job-lock by guaranteeing that individuals who are covered by an employer-sponsored policy will not lose their coverage by changing jobs. It also allows individuals and small businesses to join together to purchase insurance, thereby leveraging their negotiating power to gain better rates and/or benefits. In addition, the bill makes health care more affordable by gradually increasing the deductibility of premium costs for the self-employed to 80 percent--a move which will be of great benefit to the more than 56,000 self-employed Idahoans. I am also pleased to note the bill allows for the cost of long-term care insurance and expenses to be deductible--another of the reforms I have supported since before I joined the Senate. And the Health Insurance Reform Act achieves all these goals without unnecessary Federal intrusion into the health care system.”