Health care coverage is an essential part of the American Dream. Yet, when Change to Win recently surveyed workers, they ranked not being able to afford health care and fear of losing health care benefits as the top two concerns they worry about most.

In order to make the American Dream a reality for American workers, we must fix our broken health care system. That’s why Change to Win outlined to Congress the tenets of a new health care model that will cover all Americans.

The following are Change to Win’s principles for creating a health care system built on American values:

1. Guaranteed Coverage: Everyone should have access to quality affordable health care.
2. Guaranteed Benefits: A standard health care benefit should meet people’s medical needs.
3. Fair Financing: The health care system should be broadly and fairly financed.
4. Strong Cost Controls: Our health care system should be efficient, reduce waste and curb excessive profits.
5. Choice of Provider: Everyone should have a choice of doctors and other health care providers.
6. Quality of Care: Substantial investments are needed to improve patient safety and health care outcomes and to control costs. 
7. Role of Government: Government should be the watchdog and the enforcer of rules, and it should efficiently manage public insurance plans.
8. Privatized High-Deductible Health Plans: Do not offer a comprehensive solution to our health care crisis.

Read more about our principles for health care reform.