Health Care Reform: Statement

The National Leaders Council of the American Ethical Union
Health Care Reform Statement of 2009

The National Leaders Council of the American Ethical Union supports current efforts to reform the health care system within the United States in order to provide affordable, effective and dependable health care for all. We reaffirm our historic position that “Health care is a right to which every man, woman and child is entitled.”*

Although the present proposed bills in Congress do not address all the issues of concern to us, we support President Obama’s effort at creating a just and fair health care system. We expect that any national reform legislation should contain:

Availability of health care to all persons, regardless of age, ability to pay, or pre-existing conditions.
Universal insurance coverage that would include preventative, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative services and mental care, for as long as necessary.
Assurance of freedom of choice for patients and doctors, and equality of price for all.

Nothing in such health care legislation should preclude the private practice of medicine or the private funding of medical care or research.

*AEU 1973 statement on health care