The Ten Commandments of Healthcare

NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice is concerned about healthcare because of our commitment to the dignity of all people. We are called to care for those who suffer, and we are challenged to support all of our neighbors so they can realize their full potential. As part of this mandate, we have an obligation to protect populations who have historically been discriminated against because of their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. To that end, we seek a society where all have access to quality, affordable, equitable healthcare.

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  1. Thou shalt provide affordable insurance and the same benefits to all currently covered under the Affordable Care Act.
  2. Thou shalt continue to allow children under the age of 26 to be covered by their parents’ insurance.
  3. Thou shalt ensure that insurance premiums and cost sharing are truly affordable to all.
  4. Thou shalt expand Medicaid to better serve vulnerable people in our nation.
  5. Thou shalt not undercut the structure or undermine the purpose of Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare funding.
  6. Thou shalt create effective mechanisms of accountability for insurance companies and not allow them to have annual or lifetime caps on expenditures.
  7. Thou shalt not allow insurance companies to discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions.
  8. Thou shalt not allow insurance companies to discriminate against women, the elderly, and people in poverty.
  9. Thou shalt provide adequate assistance for people enrolling and using their health coverage.
  10. Thou shalt continue to ensure reasonable revenue is in the federal budget to pay for life-sustaining healthcare for all.