With our robust economy, American workers are finally seeing some improvement in the health benefits they receive. But low-wage employees still face enormous barriers to getting health insurance.

If you have even a mild health condition, your premium could be surcharged, or you could be denied coverage entirely. If you have a serious illness, rest assured that you're going to be denied. But if you have a mild condition, even something like hay fever, you may face limitations or even denial.

In many ways what's been happening in the economy hits them (working poor families) the worst. Those with higher incomes are more likely to have employer-provided insurance. And many lower-income (people) have Medicaid to fall back. For that in-between group, there's nothing.

As long as the growth in health insurance premiums far outpaces the growth in wages, the erosion in the workplace will continue.

And it must provide an immediate boost to the economy, create jobs and help laid-off workers with health care and unemployment insurance,

The economy seems very healthy and there is a significant demand for workers.