WASHINGTON — Health insurance policies would no longer be tied to a person's employment under a major health care reform bill Sen. Bennett, R-Utah, announced he supported Wednesday.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the Healthy Americans Act earlier this year, and Bennett hopes his support of the bill will encourage other Republicans to review it.

"Republicans have always resisted the idea of universal coverage on the grounds that it might somehow lead to a single-payer government-run system that we don't like, and Democrats have always resisted the idea of letting market forces into health care on the grounds that somehow some companies are going to benefit to the detriment of individuals," Bennett said. "The time has come to get this thing resolved."

Bennett was quick to admit the bill "is not perfect" but said he and the others are open to "conversation and negotiation" on its details.

The bill "guarantees affordable, high-quality, private health coverage for all Americans that can never be taken away" according to a summary, by creating a Health Help Agency in each state that would offer different plans from which people could choose their own coverage — including one comparable to one offered to members of Congress. The agencies would coordinate payments and work with those getting the insurance to figure out which plan would work best.

Through the bill, people would be required to have health insurance and the government would work to make sure premiums are kept low and have a health-care tax deduction.

The bill's authors also say it will put "more money in people's pockets" because employers would need to covert health-care premiums paid for employees into higher wages that workers would use to buy their own insurance through these agencies.

Those that do not offer health insurance would need to start making payments to workers that would go toward buying the insurance, according to a summary of the bill.

"By putting Americans — rather than their employers — in charge of health care, everyone will be guaranteed quality care, even if they change jobs, lose their job or become too sick to work a job," according to the summary.

The bill also provides incentives for participating in "wellness programs" and other preventative measures. Bennett said he has been surprised in the past that during any debate about health care policy, there is little actual talk about health. He said the bill changes that current system that focuses on how to help people only when they are really sick and puts an emphasis on keeping people healthy.

Reps. Brian Baird, D-Wash., and Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., introduced the same bill in the House Wednesday, with all four lawmakers agreeing that they should not "sit around and wait" until the 2008 presidential election to deal with health care, Wyden said.

"There's no question that Congress needs to tackle health care reform, and the bill Senator Bennett is backing is one of several that are advancing the debate," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

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