HARRY AND LOUISE ADS HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Clinton Releases Own Plan For The Uninsured

Jan 19, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 19, 2000

CONTACT: Carrie B. Tydings
(202) 824-1786
e-mail: ctydings@hiaa.org

The following statement was released today by Chip Kahn, president of the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA):

You heard it today from Bill Clinton: "I wish they would come into the Oval Office . . . and we could have . . . a Harry and Louise press conference, endorsing this expansion of health coverage." Mr. President, we'd be glad to hold a joint press conference endorsing common ground initiatives that would result in coverage for millions of Americans.

The Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) has long been an advocate for providing affordable quality health insurance to those who are most in need. Yesterday, HIAA launched a million-dollar advertising campaign to encourage the President, Congress, and the presidential candidates to focus on the problem of the uninsured and to give greater visibility to the association's proposal, InsureUSA. We appreciate, Mr. President, that you have been listening; and the White House's new proposal is largely consistent with--and in some respects, identical to--InsureUSA.

InsureUSA would increase coverage for millions of Americans through targeted assistance and tax relief. Moreover, HIAA supports expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) to include parents and other needy Americans, as well as accelerating enrollment of uninsured children in the program. We also agree that providing tax credits to small businesses will better enable them to provide coverage to their employees.

HIAA strongly supports efforts to expand access to health coverage to the 44 million uninsured Americans, without disrupting coverage to the 170 million Americans under age 65 who already have private coverage. Like the President's approach, these efforts build on the best features of the private employment-based system and public programs for Americans in need, such as Medicaid and S-CHIP.