Aetna (NYSE: AET)
today commended the U.S. Senate for taking action to significantly
expand access to health care coverage for millions of Americans. While
noting progress toward meaningful reform, Aetna Chairman and CEO Ronald
A. Williams said that more needs to be done to deliver on the full
promise of health care system reform.
“Today, the Senate took an important step, but reform that doesn’t deal
with affordability, tied to health care quality, is not a complete
victory for consumers”
“Today, the Senate took an important step, but reform that doesn’t deal
with affordability, tied to health care quality, is not a complete
victory for consumers,” said Williams. “Guaranteeing that Americans
cannot be denied insurance and enhancing coverage for millions of people
are essential actions. When consumers win, we all win, and that can only
happen if health care reform addresses both access and affordability.
The Senate has not done enough on addressing costs and has actually
exacerbated the problem of affordability by choosing to pay for reform
through billions of dollars in additional taxes on the health care
system which will be transferred to the consumer through higher costs
and will therefore hurt health care affordability for the average
American.
“It’s imperative that the House – Senate conference committee get the
final outcome right. As a company with a track record of leadership in
health care policy, we stand ready to work with the committee to craft a
workable outcome that addresses health care affordability and truly
helps get the best out of our health care system.”
To learn more about Aetna’s position on health care reform, visit www.healthreformplan.com
on www.aetna.com.