The United States is the only industrialized nation without comprehensive leave for new parents, mothers and fathers to care for sick children, and sons and daughters to care for aging loved ones. It leaves many Americans to make a wrenching choice between their paycheck and the health and wellbeing of their family.
The dilemma has been accentuated during the COVID-19 pandemic, as women especially have left the workforce to care for family members.
As it stands, nearly 62 million Americans benefit from employer-based paid leave. More can be done, and America’s life insurance companies support expanding paid family and medical leave to all workers. We are ready to work with private employers and government to strengthen caregiving and help more people protect their family’s financial future.
Insurers have the tools and experience to cover more workers and families through employer-based plans. By building on what works in the existing employer-based system, a strong and sustainable achievement for America’s working families is within reach.
To learn more about this issue of vital importance to our nation, please click here to access an informative briefing.
Cindy Goff is Vice President, Supplemental Benefits and Group Insurance at the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), where she develops and implements state and federal public policy positions and strategies to ensure access to innovative financial protection products. She has also served as Director of Health Policy for Aflac and VP of Product Policy at America’s Health Insurance Plans.
