Learn More About Healthcare Reform

Current inadequate health insurance coverage is generating grave consequences for the 80 million Americans who suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Heart disease and stroke patients who are uninsured or underinsured are having difficulty affording essential treatments. Insurance policies with high premiums and practices that penalize those with pre-existing conditions are creating a challenging and expensive reality for heart disease and stroke survivors.

The burden of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases can be particularly problematic for those without health insurance. The uninsured with cardiovascular disease experience higher mortality rates and poorer blood pressure control. People who lack health insurance experience a 24-56% higher risk of death from stroke.

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:

• All United States residents should have meaningful, affordable healthcare coverage
• Preventive benefits are an essential component of meaningful healthcare coverage
• All United States residents should receive high quality healthcare
• Race, gender and geographic disparities in healthcare should be eliminated
• Ongoing support of biomedical and health services research should be a national priority
• The United States’ superior healthcare workforce should continue to grow and diversify as appropriate through a sustained and substantial commitment to medical education and clinical training

Resources on Healthcare Reform

Visit the Access to Care Resource Center
AHA’s Healthcare Reform Brochure
AHA’s One Page Healthcare Reform Summary
AHA’s 2008 Statement of Principles for Healthcare Reform
AHA's Priorities for Health Care Reform
Breaking Down the Barriers Fact Sheet
Small Hearts – Big Challenges Congenital Heart Defects Fact Sheet


Check out the You’re the Cure blog for the latest updates on AHA’s federal efforts on healthcare reform.