St. Judes Knights of Columbus at 801 N. Bridge St., Dewitt, MI 48820 US - Senator Carl Levin

Dear Dr. Dobrzelewski:

Thank you for contacting me regarding health insurance reform. I appreciate hearing from you. I have long supported the goal of ensuring access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

In recent months, I have heard from many individuals across Michigan who have offered their views regarding various aspects of health insurance reform. These views range broadly, from support for the President’s and Congress’s efforts, to opposition to any government enacted reform, to advocating for certain priorities to be included in the legislation. Many also have expressed their thoughts about which services ought or ought not to be included in health insurance plans, about an individual’s ability to continue coverage through their current providers, or on how this legislation would affect established benefits and services.

Nearly forty-seven million Americans live without health insurance, and many more live with intermittent or insufficient coverage. Rising health insurance premiums and unemployment have contributed to the continuous rise of these numbers. With Americans spending one out of every five dollars on health care, we need to reform our health insurance market to create a stronger, more efficient, and more stable health care system.

Two Senate Committees share jurisdiction over health insurance reform. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee recently unveiled a health insurance reform bill, the Affordable Health Choices Act. The Senate Finance Committee continues to work on bipartisan legislation. The goals of this legislation include: ensuring that those who are uninsured no longer fall through the gaps in the current health insurance system; reducing and stabilizing health care costs; and increasing access to high quality health care for all Americans. Once the Finance Committee completes its work on this legislation, it will be reconciled with the HELP Committee’s bill prior to coming before the full Senate for consideration.

The House of Representative also has been working diligently to craft health insurance reform legislation. On July 31, 2009, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (H.R.3200). This legislation must now be reconciled with the bills passed by the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee before being brought before the House floor for a vote.

It is unclear what the final health insurance reform bill will look like at this time, but I will continue to monitor its progress and will fight to ensure that any health insurance reform legislation includes provisions that protect Americans’ access to quality, affordable health care. I am hopeful Congress and the President will come together to enact needed health insurance reform this year.

Sincerely,
Carl Levin

(Back)