Prescriptions for Change in Health Coverage from Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports magazine has a health section on their web site where much of the information is about products, services, and treatments but for some time now Consumer Reports has been doing research on health care reform. In November 2007, Consumer Reports completed a telephone poll of 1,200 Americans age 18 and older. More than 80 percent responded that a reformed system should guarantee the following.

• Coverage for all uninsured children.

• Protection against financial ruin due to a major illness or accident.

• The ability to obtain coverage regardless of a pre-existing condition.

• Coverage that continues even when people are laid off, changing jobs, or starting their own business.

• Premiums, deductibles, and out-of- pocket expenses that are affordable relative to family income.

• The ability of people to keep their current health insurance if they choose.

The following excerpt demonstrates how Americans feel about their health coverage.

Overall, 81 percent say they are concerned about being able to afford health care in retirement, 68 percent worry about being bankrupted by medical bills following a serious illness or accident, and 65 percent fear losing their job-related health coverage.

If you would like to read more of this report, click on the tile Six prescriptions for change.