Congressman Pete King

Health Care Reform

Americans have the leading doctors, the most advanced medical technology and the best hospitals in the world. It is not uncommon for major government officials from other countries to come to the United States for their medical procedures.

85% of Americans have health insurance. While certain reforms are needed, we should have done this by working within and adding to the system we now have - - not radically restructuring 17% of the nation’s economy which is what President Obama’s healthcare legislation did. Although our healthcare system isn’t perfect, it is still the best in the world.

I have heard from numerous constituents that this law is already having an adverse impact—insurance premiums are rising exponentially and are killing the middle class. Although the Supreme Court has upheld most of the health law, I believe it should be repealed and replaced with incremental improvements.

I will continue to fight for and support reform measures that empower patients while simultaneously reducing costs including:

• Ensuring coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions.
• Eliminating lifetime caps.
• Providing for portability of insurance from one job to another.
• Fostering competition by allowing consumers to purchase insurance across state lines.
• Preserving a patient’s ability to keep his or her health plan if they like it.