Senators Bennett and Wyden explain the details of The Healthy Americans Act at a Senate Budget Committee hearing on June 26, 2007, marking the first time since June 22, 1994, when a comprehensive health care reform bill received a congressional hearing.

Senator Bob Bennett joined ranks earlier this year with Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, to put forward a plan – The Healthy Americans Act – that would provide every American with affordable, private health insurance. It has attracted the attention of people and organizations on both sides of the aisle as the best way to address the looming health care crisis. The momentum continues to build in the United States Congress, with Democrats and Republicans signing on to support in both chambers. The Senate cosponsors continue to increase, marking a total of seven Republicans (Senators Judd Gregg, Chuck Grassley, Norm Coleman, Mike Crapo, Lamar Alexander, and Bob Corker) and seven Democrats (Senators Debbie Stabenow, Bill Nelson, Joe Lieberman, Tom Carper, Mary Landrieu, and Daniel Inouye).

The Basic Principles of the Healthy Americans Act

1. CHOICE – Gives Americans choice in what type of coverage best suits their individual and family’s needs and a choice in where they receive health care services.
2. PORTABILITY – Because the individual will now own their health policy, insurance becomes portable from job to job and individuals will no longer feel tied to their job because of health benefits.
3. TAX REFORM – Breaks the link between employment and insurance, giving employees instead of employers the tax benefit, which will strengthen incentives to shop for lower cost plans, as well as improve health care quality.
4. HEALTHY BEHAVIOR – Promotes personal responsibility and preventative medicine by creating incentives for individuals to engage in healthy behavior.  
5. MARKET FORCES – Provides for patient-driven health care through market forces by allowing more transparency and competition, thereby forcing insurance companies to compete on price, benefits, and quality.

Senator Bennett Action on The Healthy Americans Act

CBO Finds Healthy Americans Act Would Lead to Surpluses by 2014

CBO Report on the Healthy Americans Act

Senators Inouye and Corker Sponsor Healthy Americans Act

Washington Post on Healthy Americans Act: Universal Coverage’s Mavericks by Ruth Marcus

Baker's Dozen for the Healthy Americans Act

Click here to read the independent and nonpartisan Lewin Group's analysis of the Healthy Americans Act

Senators Lieberman and Crapo Sponsor Healthy Americans Act

Senator Bennett PowerPoint Presentation: The Healthy Americans Act: The Case for Reform

Wyden, Bennett Welcome New Senate Sponsors of the Healthy Americans Act - Now Five Republicans and Four Democrats

Bennett Says Congress Should Act Now to Provide Every American with Health Care

Senator Bennett and Senator Wyden Discuss the Healthy Americans Act on Senate Floor

Bennett, Wyden, Baird and Emerson Propose First Bipartisan, Comprehensive Bill in More than a Decade to Guarantee Health Coverage for All Americans

 Multimedia Links

Senator Bennett and Senator Wyden join the cosponsors of the Healthy Americans Act to discuss the findings of the CBO report showing the bill would be budget neutral in its startup years and generate surpluses by 2014. part 1 | part 2

Click here to listen to Senator Bennett praise the results of the CBO report.

Click here to listen to Senator Bennett discuss The Healthy Americans Act at a press conference announcing the bill’s bipartisan, bicameral support.

Click here to listen to Senator Bennett discuss the Healthy Americans Act at a press conference with the Coalition to Advance Healthcare Reform.

Click here to listen to Senator Bennett discuss his health care proposal in a Senate Budget Committee hearing.

Do you have a question or comment about The Healthy Americans Act?

If so, please email Senator Bennett at healthcare@bennett.senate.gov. Please include your name, address, and email address with any comments.