Introduction

American families struggle under the current health care system to find and maintain affordable, quality insurance coverage. For American families, average health insurance premiums purchased through an employer have skyrocketed by over 100 percent since 2000¹, and out-of-pocket costs have grown unsustainably. Escalating health care costs are forcing increasing numbers of Americans to go without health coverage and impeding access to secure and affordable health insurance choices for millions of Americans. As a result, families get lower quality coverage for their dollar; worse, many fall victim to crippling medical debts or avoid needed health care services altogether. Health insurance reform seeks to drive down costs, put more money in the hands of the American people, and ensure all Americans receive the health care services they need and deserve. 

These efforts won’t just help our health care system, they will also help our economy. Lowering health care costs by 1 percent will create 320,000 jobs nationwide and raise median family income by $6,800 by 2030.² And reform will drive down premiums and limit out-of-pocket costs that eat into the family budget.