B’nai B’rith is hopeful significant reform that increases access to healthcare for millions, and maintains and sustains it for millions more, is more possible now than ever before. In too many cases, one medical catastrophe can lead to a fiscal catastrophe for an individual or family.

Long an advocate of healthcare reform, and a strong advocate for senior citizens (who often bear the brunt of healthcare costs) B’nai B’rith International supports comprehensive healthcare changes that will enable the tens of millions of Americans without insurance to have better access to healthcare, help the underinsured, and provide healthcare options for those who lose their insurance when they lose their jobs.

“Reforming our very broken health insurance system is at last within reach,” B’nai B’rith Director of Senior Advocacy Rachel Goldberg, Ph.D., said. “With the House passage of a healthcare reform bill, and the Senate’s forward momentum, healthcare reform is finally close to reality. It’s been a long wait, and our vigilance continues through these final steps.”

B’nai B’rith is optimistic about many provisions in the Senate bill now under consideration, as well as by the inclusion of measures to ensure competition, affordability, and access to health insurance. B’nai B’rith is especially encouraged by the inclusion of the CLASS Act, which would create a voluntary insurance program to cover long-term care costs that are covered by neither health insurance nor Medicare. The House bill that passed earlier this month, and the Senate version introduced this week, both include the CLASS provision.

Reforming the health insurance system is an issue vital to the public. In addition to the uninsured, millions of Americans who want to buy health insurance are outright refused, or are priced out of the market based on health status, gender, or even age. Those without health insurance don’t visit a doctor on a regular basis and miss out on important, and often less expensive, preventive care.

“An affordable and fair healthcare system is the right of all Americans,” said Mark Olshan, Ph.D., associate executive director of B’nai B’rith International. “The Senate’s actions bring us that much closer to eliminating a source of intense anxiety and hardship for far too many Americans.”