United Healthcare 2004 Annual Report Download - page 5

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These results aside, it remains our belief that health care
must work better, should be easier and simpler to use, and
must be accessible for all people. As a society and a nation,
we have not worked hard enough on this agenda. Our aspirations
and actions are too modest, and our pace lacks appropriate urgency given the costs in
both human suffering and the national economic resources we currently expend.
We believe the efforts of UnitedHealth Group and others are important to
meeting the broad challenges related to health and well-being that affect our society,
as well as those beyond our domestic borders. Certainly, our company alone cannot
solve the significant issues surrounding health care for all citizens. That will require
mutual participation by all parties involved in health care, particularly physicians
and other providers of care, employers, government, intermediaries and consumers.
While we urge these collective efforts to accelerate, we will move ahead with urgency.
UnitedHealth Group has been
—
and will continue to be
—
an important innovator
and advocate for addressing the issues of quality, affordability, accessibility and
usability in health care.
Given our position and the potential before us, we are optimistic about the future.
We have the tools, the capacity, the desire and, above all, the commitment of our
people. Innovations, services and products from UnitedHealth Group have provided
meaningful value to people across a broad set of health-related needs. We intend
to continue our tradition of challenging the past in pursuit of a better future and
remain confident that the beliefs and strategies we have long pursued will continue
to yield positive results.
Sincerely,
William W. McGuire, M.D.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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