Too many Americans don't have access to quality, affordable health care and with increasing unemployment and an economy still in recession that number is going to get larger and larger. Under the current system, many working people find it impossible to pay for rising insurance premiums. In 45 states, insurance companies can pick and choose who they're willing to cover. These large, profit-making businesses can toss people out of plans if their coverage starts to get "too expensive" for the bottom line.

The situation is even worse for LGBT people. Society's bias and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression has meant that many LGBT people have had poor or no access to adequate health care. LGBT individual health has suffered disproportionately from stigma, stress, and violence. We have often not had access for even routine care.  

Any health care reform must be fully LGBT-inclusive.  As Congress and the Obama Administration undertake reform of the American health care system to ensure that all Americans have equitable access to the full continuum of health promotion, prevention, and treatment services, we must be sure to effectively address the needs of distinct populations.

Health care disparities affecting the LGBT community are now recognized by numerous federal agencies and working groups, including the following divisions of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The HHS Secretary's Advisory Committee on Healthy People 2020 has acknowledged the imperative to address the disparities in health status and health care access that affect the LGBT community, as well as the necessity of targeting the specific needs of the LGBT community when undertaking health care system reform.

The President's proposed plan brings stability to people who presently have health care coverage, provide security for people who don't have insurance now, and offers a plan to keep costs under control.