National Coalition on Benefits Letter to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary for America
One Pierrepont Plaza
Brooklyn, New York 11201
Mr. Donald J. Trump
Trump Tower
725 5th Avenue
New York, New York 10022

Dear Secretary Clinton and Mr. Trump:

Congratulations on securing your party’s nomination as a candidate for president. On behalf of the National Coalition on Benefits (NCB), we are seeking your support of policies that we believe will strengthen employer-sponsored health care coverage.

NCB is comprised of industry trade associations representing large and small employers in all 50 states. Employers are one of the nation’s largest payers of health care services and we recognize our nation’s challenges in controlling health care spending. Employers work hard to offer health care benefits that include wellness and plan design innovations, which deliver quality, affordable health care for our employees.
As you develop and discuss your health care reform agenda, please consider these three important policy pillars for strengthening employer-sponsored coverage:

First, over 175 million Americans are enrolled in employer-sponsored coverage, and these employees report that their health care benefits are “extremely” or “very” important. Continuing to offer these benefits is possible because of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and its role in enabling uniform benefits to be offered to employees no matter where they live, work or receive medical care.
Second, the health care law’s 40 percent tax on health benefits must be repealed. NCB does not support the so-called Cadillac Tax or other changes to the tax treatment of employer-sponsored health benefits that could adversely impact our employees and the employer-based health system. In particular, we are concerned that these tax changes will be especially hard for older workers, employees and family members with chronic illnesses or employees who live in high-cost areas of the country.
Finally, innovations in employer-sponsored coverage are helping to reduce health care spending. Employers are adopting new strategies that are improving the delivery of health care, driving value?based payment reforms, helping employees maintain their health and empowering employees and their families with more tools to help them avoid and manage chronic illnesses.

In closing, NCB looks forward to working with you to support employer-sponsored health care coverage and innovations to lower health care costs for both employers and employees and the communities in which they live.

RESOURCES

National Coalition on Benefits Letter to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump