The ITUP Spotlight on Health Reform

AHIP President Karen Ignagni released a statement regarding the rampant individual market premium increases, though declined to comment on the industry's profit earnings. Nevertheless, her comments reinforce the need for reform of the deteriorating system:

It’s time to stop the politics of vilification and focus on what Americans need most: real health care reform that addresses the serious and urgent problems facing our nation.

Increases in the cost of coverage in the individual market shine a spotlight on the urgent need to reduce the growth of underlying medical costs and to bring everyone into the system. If reform doesn’t address these pieces, it will not solve the serious problems that individuals, families, and employers face. That is why health plans have proposed fundamental reform of health insurance markets and a long-term strategy to reduce rising health care costs.

I explained the issue further in a recent television interview, and read today's HHS report that investigates the trend occurring in many other states while explaining how reform improves the status quo.

Senate whip count update: 34 Senators are now on record in support of reconciliation and 20 support inclusion of a public option.