1. A Public Option

President Barack Obama and many Congressional Democrats support giving Americans the choice of a government-funded public insurance plan in addition to existing private insurance plans. A public plan, which would be voluntary and not affect existing coverage, would provide a safety net for those without access to a private plan. It would also create competition with private insurers, helping to drive down costs and improve quality of service.

2. Affordable Health Care for All

In order to make sure all working Americans are covered, employers should be required to provide health care to their employees or pay into a public fund to cover uninsured workers. This will level the playing field for employers who do provide health insurance by making sure companies like Wal-Mart, which provide minimal or nonexistent coverage, can’t undercut unionized companies.

3. Limit Employer Exemptions

Some in Congress are proposing to exempt small businesses from mandatory coverage regulations. This would be disastrous for workers in the construction industry as the majority of construction firms have 10 employees or less, giving nonunion contractors an unfair advantage over union ones.

4. Cover the Medicare Gap

For many companies that provide health insurance, the biggest cost comes from providing coverage for retired workers who are under 65. Health care coverage remains the top reason workers eligible for retirement stay on the job. The government needs to provide affordable coverage for retirees who are between the ages of 55 and 64.

5. No Taxation of Health Care Benefits

Taxing existing health care benefits would hurt workers who have forsaken wage increases in order to get better health care benefits, and it would punish companies that have done the right thing by making sure their employees are covered.