A Message from the President of the AMA

FROM THE PRESIDENTJohn C. Nelson, MD, MPHThe Census Bureau recently made a heartbreaking announcement: last year, 45million Americans lacked health insurance. This ever-increasing number can beattributed to a number of factors, including our nation’s medical liabilitycrisis and a reduction in employment-based health insurance coverage. In fact,according to a recent national study by the Center for Studying Health SystemChange, the percentage of Americans under the age of 65 with employer healthinsurance dropped from 67 percent to 63 percent between 2000 and 2003.Without insurance, many patients forgo seeking medical attention until theirhealth problem reaches a crisis level. At that point, many illnesses, such asheart disease and cancer, have reached the point of no return.But it doesn’t have to be this way. Covering the uninsured is one of the AMA’smajor priorities -- and we have a plan to help remedy the situation. As it stands, employers – not employees – choose health insurance, so plans arenot responsive to individual demand for access, quality and affordability. Thecornerstone of the AMA plan is to allow federal tax credits for the purchase ofindividually selected and owned health insurance and a wide range of new,affordable insurance options. The AMA also supports the crafting of appropriatemarket regulation based on the recognition that neither free-market mechanismsnor market regulations alone will fully meet the needs of those who have chronicillnesses or conditions that are expensive to treat.Not having health insurance is in and of itself a risk factor. If we have theability to map the human genome, we ought to be able to devise a rational planto ensure access to health care coverage for all Americans.Take the time to talk with your patients, friends and family about theadvantages of individually selected and owned health insurance. Visitwww.ama-assn.org/go/insurance-reform where you can learn more about our approachto expanding health insurance coverage and choice and help us to make it areality. Of course, we welcome constructive criticism.