Remember Health Care? (The Angle)

Remember Health Care?

It was only a year ago that the U.S. Congress was in the thick of the debate over plans to help small business pay for health care. The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act would have created small business health plans that allowed small companies, including design firms, to band together to increase their insurance purchasing power. The bill, which the AIA strongly backed and lobbied for, had passed the House but was blocked in the Senate in May 2006.

This year, the health care debate has focused mainly on expanding access to health care for children (today, the House is voting on a slightly revised version of the children’s health insurance bill that was vetoed by the President earlier this month). And several Presidential candidates have spoken of their plans for health care reform. But legislation to help small businesses purchase more affordable health insurance is not on Congress’ radar screen this year.

Does that mean that the issue is dead? Or that compromise is too hard to achieve? How should Congress and the President help smaller firms deal with the rising costs of health care?

What do you think?

Posted by AIA Government Affairs on October 25, 2007 4:17 PM | Permalink

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Comments (5)

John K. Spear, AIA:

The health care issue is far from dead--but will best be dealt with in early 2009 when we will have a Democratic president and much larger Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress. It is far past time for us to enact universal single-payer NATIONAL health insurance just like every other civilized industrial democracy on the planet. My own preference would be Medicare for all--relegating the predatory, cherry-picking, profiteering insurance criminals to the oblivion they have earned and so richly deserve. As an acceptable first step, the health plans of several Democratic presidential candidates include mandatory coverage for all, an immediate end to cherry-picking and up-rating, and federal assistance and tax credits to help lower income families and individuals and small businesses to be able to afford coverage. The current system is completely unacceptable and the Republican pols who trade their votes to support it in exchange for insurance company "contributions" should be punished by the voters and sent home.

Posted by John K. Spear, AIA | October 26, 2007 7:16 AM

Posted on October 26, 2007 07:16

John M.McGinty, FAIA:

We should stop thinking of ourselves only as small businesses and become citizens. Affordable health care for all Americans is not just a business issue. It is an economic and moral issue as well. An employer based system is outdated and unrealistic in today's global economy. We should join with large businesses, individuals and just plain people in demanding an affordable health care system for all. We should advocate for a single payer system like an expanded Medicare, or the Congressional model that will put American businesses, be they architects or auto makers, on a level playing field with our international competition.

Posted by John M.McGinty, FAIA | October 26, 2007 9:39 AM

Posted on October 26, 2007 09:39

Greg Weiler:

We all have watched our health insurance rates spiral up...in our case in Oregon, 50% in the last two years alone. The debate between an employer-based system versus a national-individual system was moved to a high priority 14 years ago and we will likely be debating another 14 years. In the mean time, we small business owners will be forced to cut and eventually drop all staff coverage...that day is coming soon. Why isn't there a true "AIA Health Insurance Plan" in place of the overpriced "AIA Endorsed" plan? Can someone explain why the AIA cannot organize a true, national health plan for AIA members...are "state laws" in the way? The AIA needs to do more than "strongly endorse" pending legislation by putting together a true, national health plan for all AIA members that is affordable, portable and comprehensive....so we small business owners can survive the next 14 years of debate until the inevitable national, universal health care plan gets up and running.

Posted by Greg Weiler | October 26, 2007 2:01 PM

Posted on October 26, 2007 14:01

Ann Casso, AIA Trust:

Unfortunately, there isn't a "AIA Health Insurance Plan" because there simply are none offered. Meaning, no insurance company will offer this type of group insurance plan any longer. We kept the overpriced "AIA Endorsed" plan as long as it made sense (or perhaps a little longer than made sense) so members would have an option. Yes, "state laws" are in the way and many mandate a one-size-fits-all approach - and because technology has advanced healthcare into very expensive realms, insurance companies will not agree to cover all members and all costs. There are some group health plans available that only offer extremely low coverage, so the Trust has opted not to pursue them. For now, we offer a brokerage service since it can obtain quotes for members and components from as many as 100 A-rated companies (depending on locations and needs). As soon as a viable, financially stable option is available, the AIA Trust will work to implement it for members.

Posted by Ann Casso, AIA Trust | October 26, 2007 2:45 PM

Posted on October 26, 2007 14:45

Howard Wong, AIA:

Aging baby boomers are now loading the political scale towards universal health insurance. In the absence of national leadership, desperation is sparking some creativity. Closer to home, San Francisco has initiated its own health insurance plan, by maximizing the efficiency of its public clinics and hospitals. The State of California is developing a statewide health coverage concept. In the recent United Auto Workers/ General Motors Contract, GM shifted its $55 billion benefits liability to a voluntary employee benefit association, or VEBA, a health care trust overseen by the UAW. Simultaneously, the contract creates a National Institute for Health Care Reform, with $15 million of GM funding, to push for change in the nation's health care system. Every industrial nation has long instituted universal single-payer national health insurance. Even they are stressed by an aging demographics BUT they are in the process of planning and instituting national strategies. Architects excel at planning and innovating. The AIA needs to enter the fray!

Posted by Howard Wong, AIA | November 2, 2007 2:52 AM

Posted on November 2, 2007 02:52

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