CAHI Deeply Disappointed by Supreme Court Decision to Uphold the Affordable Care Act

November elections are the next battleground

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) is deeply disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court validated a massive expansion of federal power over Americans' most personal decisions -- those impacting their health and the health of their families -- by letting stand the federal health care reform law (ACA). "CAHI members believe a one-size-fits-all approach does not produce the best health care delivery system for our nation," stated CAHI's interim Executive Director, Marianne Eterno. "Because the federal law has not been struck down in its entirety, we remain concerned about the future of health care in America."

"This law does nothing to tackle one of the fundamental problems with our health care system: costly mandates have driven health insurance premiums out of the reach of millions of American consumers. Instead, the ACA will add millions of dollars to the nation's deficit, while taking important decisions out of the hands of consumers and handing them to Washington bureaucrats," warned Victoria Craig Bunce, CAHI Research and Policy Director.

"The November elections will be the next battleground on which the fate of the health care reform law is decided," explained Roy Ramthun, CAHI Director of Federal Affairs. Republicans will most likely try to repeal the law legislatively, but chances of success are diminished by the Supreme Court's unwillingness to strike it down."

Ramthun added, "Just because you have health insurance doesn't mean you can get health care -- as millions living in countries with government-run health care systems know all too well. When a government controls the health care system, people get one choice: whatever the government chooses to provide. In government-run systems, no one knows what health care costs -- nor do they care. As a result, consumers are held hostage by the government's cost-benefit analysis. And patients only have access to what the government decides is cost effective care. "

Since 1992, CAHI has been the principled, free-market voice protecting and promoting access, affordability and choice in American health care. CAHI's membership includes health insurers, small businesses, physicians, actuaries, insurance producers and brokers and consumers. It's your health; it's your choice.

SOURCE Council for Affordable Health Insurance