Podcast Center
Video Center
Webcasts
Resource Center
Events
May 12, 2002 at 08:00 PM
By
Washington
President Bushs decision to support mental health parity legislation is drawing differing reactions from business and insurer groups.
Donald Young, president of the Health Insurance Association of America, criticized mental health coverage mandates, saying they ultimately operate as a hidden tax on workers.
“At a time when health care costs are soaring, the last thing employers and workers need is a new mandate that will make health insurance even more expensive,” he said.
Workers will actually foot the bill for the mandates, he said. “Lawmakers support them because they can get credit for something that doesnt cost the government anything.”
Neil Trautwein, director of employment policy for the National Association of Manufacturers, praised Bushs comment that the expanded benefit should not greatly increase the cost of health coverage.
