Cass Ballenger: “I support the Patient Protection Act. While the bill is not perfect, it is an important step in ensuring access to…”

“I support the Patient Protection Act. While the bill is not perfect, it is an important step in ensuring access to health care insurance for many people who are currently without it. As a small business officer of a company which self-insures its 200 employees, the unlimited liability of the Dingell bill is frightening. We insure all of our employees currently, but if big government Dingell bill were to become law, we would be forced to give our employees the money and let them buy their own insurance at, obviously, a higher cost. Many businesses would have to do the same. The Dingell bill encourages patients to sue after a denial of coverage occurs rather than bringing a quick appeals process that would help the patient get coverage for care in a timely fashion. Also, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the Dingell bill will increase the cost of health care and not make it more affordable. On behalf of the American people who need affordable care, oppose this substitute. In the United States today, there are more than 42 million Americans without health insurance--many of whom are employed, or have a family member employed, by a small business that cannot afford to offer health care coverage for its employees. The Patient Protection Act addresses the lack of coverage of these individuals in several ways, including the creation of association health plans which will be governed by uniform standards.”