Reuters Summit Aetna Ceo Sees No End To Employer-Based Insurance
Employer-provided health care benefits are not likely to disappear even as a growing number of Americans lose their jobs amid a struggling economy, the head of the nation’s third-largest health insurer said on Wednesday.
While growing layoffs are likely to push growth in Aetna’s offerings for individuals, Williams said large companies are still at the forefront of the insurance market. Such employers are the most knowledgeable health care buyers and have been behind many key changes in the U.S. health insurance sector.
Williams’ comments come as the Democratic-led Congress and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama prepare to tackle health care reform next year, with an emphasis on the nearly 46 million Americans who have no health insurance.
Looking at how large employers have streamlined their offerings to continue to provide benefits while controlling costs could offer some lessons, said Williams, who was one of several CEOs who met with Obama earlier this year to discuss health care and economic issues.
“We need better ways to pool small employers, small groups, and we need better ways to pool individuals,” he said.
“Those individuals who can’t afford it should receive some form of assistance, and I’ll leave it to others to determine whether it’s vouchers or tax credits or subsidies or whatever seems to make sense.”
Tags: aetna, barack obama, ceos, controlling costs, economic issues, forefront, health care benefits, health care reform, health insurance, health insurer, insurance market, insurance sector, layoffs, offerings, president elect, reuters, small groups, subsidies, tax credits, vouchers
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