The American Heart Association and its American Stroke Association division recognize that the current crisis in our healthcare system threatens our mission of “building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.” With more than 46 million uninsured people in the United States, and many more struggling with the rising costs of health insurance and health care, the need for meaningful health reform is urgent.
The association has a longstanding commitment to approaching health reform from the patient’s perspective and believes there are six critical principles that must be addressed if health care in the United States is to be effective, equitable and excellent. These principles concentrate on access to care, preventive services, quality health care, the elimination of health disparities, continued biomedical research to improve the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke, and an adequate and diverse workforce.
The burden of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases can be particularly problematic for those without health insurance. The uninsured with CVD experience higher mortality rates and poorer blood pressure control. People who lack health insurance experience a 24 percent to 56 percent higher risk of death from stroke than those who are insured. The uninsured are also less likely to take needed medications.
Working to ensure that all residents of the United States have meaningful, affordable healthcare coverage will be a federal priority for the American Heart Association in the 111th Congress. Examples of people who may be helped through health reform include:
- Adults with heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, or other CVD risk factors who are under 65 years old and don’t have health insurance coverage but aren’t eligible for Medicare or Medicaid;
- Children with congenital heart defects and their parents who can’t find or afford health insurance coverage because of their pre-existing condition;
- Individuals under 65 years old who become permanently disabled due to a stroke or other condition but must wait two years to enroll in Medicare; and
- Families who have exhausted their savings and have high amounts of medical debt because their insurance doesn’t cover all of their medical bills.
On this site, you can learn more about why access to care is important to patients with heart disease and stroke or those at risk for cardiovascular disease. You can also learn about specific federal legislation supported by the American Heart Association.
Furthermore, the American Heart Association recently partnered with the University of Mississippi and Fred Friendly Seminars to sponsor a panel discussion on healthcare reform, called "Reinventing Healthcare." This discussion brought together healthcare experts with a wide range of viewpoints and featured a lively and engaging debate. To learn more about "Reinventing Healthcare," visit heartsforhealthcare.org.
- American Heart Association’s Principles for Healthcare Reform:
- Fact Sheets About the Need for Health Reform:
- AHA Letters of Support for Federal Legislation:
- Read Patients' Stories:
- AHA News Releases and News Articles:
- Additional Background on Health Reform:
- Other AHA Resources:
