Catholic Health Association 'disappointed' by State of the Union

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February 2006

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Catholic Health Association 'disappointed'
by State of the Union
WASHINGTON, DC (February 01, 2006) — Sister Carol Keehan, DC, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), issued the following statement in response to President Bush's State of the Union address.

"On behalf of the millions of people for whom the health care system is not available or affordable, The Catholic Health Association is disappointed with the proposals President Bush outlined in his State of the Union address to expand health insurance coverage.

"There is a crying need in this country for a fair and equitable health care system that serves all Americans. Currently some 46 million people lack health insurance, six million of whom have lost coverage since 2001. For uninsured families and individuals, the lack of coverage represents a real medical danger and is often a chronic source of personal stress and financial hardship.

"In advance of the State of the Union address, CHA asked President Bush to take vigorous steps toward a health care system that serves everyone and is especially sensitive to the 8.3 million children who have no coverage. We are prepared to work with the administration and other stakeholders to develop policies that help shape a new reality for vulnerable populations, particularly those that preserve and strengthen SCHIP and Medicaid.

"A main feature of the president's proposal is to expand the availability of health savings accounts. These accounts, known as HSAs, may be an attractive option for those who have the means but are of no value to low-income populations. If one does not have extra money to save for routine care, and if one cannot afford high deductibles for catastrophic care, health savings accounts provide no help. Rather than offering a viable insurance option for low-income families and individuals, HSAs stand to benefit only those who can afford them in the first place. While they may serve as an option for some they are not the solution for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

"Our nation largely agrees that we can and must do better. A public opinion survey recently commissioned by CHA found that more than one in four voters (26 percent) want the government to give its greatest attention to providing affordable, quality health care. Ensuring homeland security is the only priority more voters (38 percent) named as the one that should receive the government's greatest attention. 1

"The Catholic health ministry urges President Bush and Congress to recognize the public's growing demand for lawmakers to create a fair and equitable health care system."

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