CED/Zogby Release Survey of Business Perspectives on Healthcare Reform

Survey Reveals Over 60% of Business Leaders Believe that the Employer-Based
Healthcare System is Unsustainable in the Long-Term

WASHINGTON, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Committee for Economic
Development (CED) has released a Zogby International survey of 300 business
leaders in companies that provide healthcare for their employees. Over 60% of
business leaders surveyed believe that the employer-based healthcare system is
not sustainable in the long-term.

"During our research over the past three years, CED found strong
dissatisfaction among business leaders with the current healthcare system.
When over 60 percent of respondents believe the employer-based system is not
sustainable - that is a clear signal that the time for reform is now. This
poll reveals that business leaders are open to comprehensive healthcare
reforms that move away from employer-based coverage," said CED President
Charles Kolb.

The survey tested support for a number of national healthcare reform
proposals:

-- 60.3% support a market-based system of competing plans similar to
Members of Congress where the government organizes a menu of private
insurance plans from which each individual may choose.
-- 54% of business leaders support an independent Federal Health Board
modeled on the Federal Reserve Board.
-- 36% support a 'single payer' health insurance system.
-- 45.3% support an individual market with subsidies for those with low
incomes.

-- 43.3% support an employer-based system, with a public option where
firms
are required to provide coverage or pay into a fund that would
subsidize
insurance for those who do not receive it at work. 50.3% oppose this
option.

The survey was conducted from June 1 to June 12, 2009. The full poll results
can be found at
http://www.ced.org/images/content/events/health_care/zogby09.pdf.

Over 80% of business leaders surveyed support a recent public statement issued
by CED:

Every American with good healthcare should be able to keep the coverage that
he or she has, but every American also should have more choices among private
insurance plans.Those plans should be portable when people change jobs. And
every American should be able to save money if he or she makes a wise choice
among those alternative healthcare plans.

CED is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of more than 200 business
leaders and university presidents. Since 1942, its research and policy
programs have addressed many of the nations most pressing economic and social
issues, including education reform, workforce competitiveness, campaign
finance, healthcare, and global trade and finance. CED promotes policies to
produce increased productivity and living standards, greater and more equal
opportunity for every citizen, and an improved quality of life for all.

CONTACT:
Morgan Broman
202-296-5860 ext. 14
Morgan.Broman@ced.org

SOURCE The Committee for Economic Development

Morgan Broman of The Committee for Economic Development, +1-202-296-5860 ext.
14, Morgan.Broman@ced.org