The U.S. House and Senate have the opportunity to approve major health care legislation in the coming weeks. While no bill will please everyone, the time for health care reform is now.

According to an Associated Press-GfK poll from earlier this month, the majority of Americans want Congress to continue working on a bipartisan health care bill. Sixty-eight percent of people said Democrats should keep trying until they are able to reach an agreement with Republicans. In a separate question, 43 percent said they oppose the current health care reform proposal, while 41 percent support it.

We agree that bipartisan support is needed and both sides may need to make concessions, but people need health care coverage. They also need help to combat skyrocketing insurance rates.

Anthem Blue Cross has asked for increases of up 23 percent this year in Maine for some individual policyholders. In California, an Anthem company has proposed increasing premiums in this same category by up to 39 percent. Several other states have also seen proposals in the double digits as well.

If lawmakers do not make a change, premiums will continue to rise and affordable health coverage will move further from reach for those who need it most.

Senior Policy Adviser to President Barack Obama, David Axelrod, said Sunday on Meet the Press, the health care overhaul proposal would result in a net deficit reductions of more than $100 billion  this decade, and next decade perhaps a trillion or more ”“ figures he credited to the Congressional Budget Office. 

According to AP reports, within four years of passage, more than 30 million people would be able to sign up for insurance, with financial help from the government for most. Also, immediate changes would include assistance for uninsured people with medical problems and new safeguards for people with private health insurance ”“ like barring insurers from placing lifetime dollar limits on coverage and from canceling policies except in cases of fraud. Children could stay on their parents’ coverage until age 26, according to the AP analysis.

Starting in 2014, self-employed people and those whose employers don’t offer coverage would be able to pick a plan through a health insurance exchange ”“ modeled on the federal employee health program available to members of Congress. Small businesses could also join the exchange. Employers would not be required to provide insurance to their workers, but would be fined if any of their workers gets federally-subsidized coverage. Companies with 50 or fewer workers would be exempt, and those with 25 workers or fewer could get federal assistance.

While many are concerned about the implications of passing such a large bill with so many components, most Americans agree health care reform is needed. If Congress passes legislation this year to get the process started, more people will benefit from affordable health coverage and will start paying into the system at a rate they can afford rather than seeking emergency treatment that is picked up by those paying premiums for private insurance.

No bill will please everyone, but members of Congress need to work together now to reform the health care system and offer relief to all Americans.