"Patient
Protection" Bills Give Short Shrift To The Uninsured
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 1999
CONTACT: Richard Coorsh
(202) 824-1787
The following statement was released today by Chip Kahn, President of
the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA):
More than 43 million Americans currently lack health insurance. By the
year 2007, the number of Americans without health insurance will grow to
53 million – one out of every five of the non-elderly. If economic
conditions worsen, the number of uninsured Americans could grow as high as
60 million – one out of every four of the non-elderly.
Providing affordable health coverage to the millions of Americans who
desperately need it should be "job one" for Congress and the
Administration. Backers of so-called "patient protection" legislation
instead are pushing bills that would raise the number of uninsured
by raising the cost of health insurance.
The most important "patient protection" should be protection against
costly government mandates that increase the cost of health insurance.
Expensive liability and "medical necessity" mandates in the major
so-called "patient protection" bills would benefit providers and trial
attorneys, while giving short shrift to the uninsured and to businesses
and individuals struggling to maintain affordable coverage.
Consumers throughout the country are reaping the benefits of
deregulation through lower airfares, lower phone bills, and through an
increasing array of innovative new products and services. On the other
hand, so-called "patient protections" will raise consumers’ costs, raise
the number of uninsured, and hamper health plans seeking to offer
innovative new services. We urge Members of Congress and the
Administration to seriously consider the needs of millions of Americans
who need affordable coverage and access to basic health care, and not
attempt to reap political capital at their expense.
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