Aetna 2005 Annual Report Download - page 26

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 26 of the 2005 Aetna annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 50

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50

Our approach is to
anticipate and address
health care needs with
bold proposals and
initiatives that chart
a new course for
the industry.
22
The U.S. health care system faces enormous challenges. Facing
unequal access to quality health care and significant patient
safety issues, many Americans fear what the future may bring
to health care. We understand those fears and spend a lot of
time thinking about the present and future needs of our members
and all other Americans. Our approach is to anticipate and
address health care needs with bold proposals and initiatives that
chart a new course for the industry.
IMPROVING HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR ALL
In 2005, Aetna became the first national health insurer to
announce support for an individual health insurance
requirement, whereby states or the federal government would
require individuals to obtain basic health insurance coverage. Our
support for this important legislative proposal was highlighted
in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, cowritten by Aetna CEO and
President Ronald A. Williams and California Medical Association
Executive Vice President and CEO Jack Lewin, M.D.
It is a viable, common-sense approach that, if properly structured,
has the potential to expand access to quality health care for
millions of Americans and help ease the financial crisis facing
the health care system. Such a requirement would encourage
personal responsibility by recognizing that those who can afford
health care coverage should purchase it, and it acknowledges
that government should help pay for those who truly cannot
afford health coverage.
Aetna recognizes this approach represents a major shift in how
health care coverage is funded. We believe the health care system
needs ideas of this magnitude to help ensure all Americans in the
future will be able to take advantage of health care options and
innovations available through a competitive, private marketplace.
Creating preference by
challenging the future