In America, two major health insurance players said this week that they would consider phasing out high premiums for customers with medical problems if the government required all Americans to get health insurance cover.

The move towards better health care has come at the right time, as there are an estimated 48 million American’s without health cover. Therefore, by creating an incentive, health insurers are hoping to keep businesses open rather than losing them to a government controlled plan.

Health insurer spokesman Jeff Smokler from Blue Cross said the “absolute key” to lowering health premiums would be a government subsidy for people who are unable to pay.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy welcomed the reform: “Any measure that ceases penalties to the infirmed while encouraging broader health care coverage is a positive development,” he said.

Dr. Maria Torroella Carney, a health commissioner also embraced the new measure by the firms: “A public health priority must be to maximize health care coverage and improve access to health care,” she said.