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The United States boasts some of the world's best doctors and nurses, along with the most advanced medical facilities, equipment and medicines. But the high cost of health care is crippling the dreams of too many American families and businesses.
Soaring health costs create problems for everyone – families, businesses, and government. We worry that a serious illness could threaten not just our health, but our family’s financial health. School districts are forced to raise property taxes to pay for teachers' skyrocketing health care costs. And businesses are cutting back or dropping employee coverage.
America's health care challenges demand broad cooperation from businesses, individuals, lawmakers and providers. We can no longer wait for insurance companies and HMOs to provide us with the quality, affordable health care that the richest country in the world should guarantee.
America's new health care promise to all:
A promise of HIGH QUALITY health care
Public investment in preventive medicine would save up to $130 billion in waste annually.
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An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – Without life-long preventive care that starts with prenatal care, people can't be healthy and productive members of society.
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Quality care must include the services people need, and ensure that people can choose the doctors, health professionals, and medical facilities that are right for them. We must guarantee equitable access to the fruits of our advances in research that promote health and treat illness.
A promise of AFFORDABLE health care for families and businesses
The American health insurance industry spends 30 percent of insurance premiums ($230 billion annually) on administration and marketing costs, compared with 2 percent that Medicare spends on overhead.
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The high cost of health care in America is a major reason why we have trouble competing with other countries. For every car that GM makes, it spends more on health care than steel.
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Public investment in quality, affordable health care for all would reduce costs for employers, allowing them to hire more workers and compete more readily in the global economy.
A promise of a health care system that WORKS FOR ALL OF US
More than 45 million Americans, almost all in working families, lack health coverage. At least 18,000 people die each year due to lack of health insurance.
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Businesses, individuals, lawmakers and providers must join together to make sure health care concerns don't interrupt people's pursuit of the American dream.
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Everyone must have access to health care that is simple, affordable, comprehensive and guaranteed.
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Government must make sure that insurers, drug companies and health care providers meet their obligations to put patients first.
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