Business Group Outlines Proposal for Achieving Universal Coverage

The National Business Group on Health, a not-for-profit association of nearly 300 large employers, on Wednesday released a set of 20 conditions that would need to be met to establish a universal health coverage system in the U.S., Dow Jones reports.

According to NBGH, all U.S. residents should be required to purchase insurance for themselves and their children on a tax-advantaged basis. Under the plan, individuals who purchase insurance from the market would receive the same tax advantage as employees who purchase insurance through their employer, allowing individuals to write off their insurance benefits for tax purposes and the money spent not counting as taxable income.

However, businesses should not be required to offer health coverage to workers or to help workers pay for coverage, according to NBGH. Employer mandates are "very harmful to working families and our economy because it will only force employers to eliminate jobs, move more jobs offshore, stunt future job growth or raise consumer prices," NBGH President Helen Darling said.

In addition, NBGH said that state and federal governments should work with insurers and employers to develop health plans that are affordable and that meet the medical needs of families. Darling said, "Achieving successful health reform ... is a tremendous challenge that will require individuals, health care providers, insurers, employers and governments at all levels to take on shared responsibility. No one group can or should bear full responsibility" (Knight, Dow Jones, 1/30).