Bipartisan Proposal To Help Uninsured Is A Good First Step

Jan 27, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Carrie B. Tydings

January 26, 2000

(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):

The Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) applauds the bipartisan and bicameral efforts of Sens. Jeffords (R-VT), Frist (R-TN), and Breaux (D-LA), House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX), and Rep. Calvin Dooley (D-CA) to enable millions of uninsured Americans to afford health insurance coverage with the assistance of tax relief.

Recently, HIAA joined with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Families USA on a major conference on the uninsured to raise public awareness of their plight. Just last week, HIAA embarked on an advertising campaign featuring "Harry and Louise" to educate the public about our own proposal – InsureUSA. HIAA’s member companies see the lack of coverage for 44 million Americans as an epidemic for which coverage is the cure. We are pleased to see that key leaders in Congress are placing the same emphasis on this enormous and growing problem.

Though the two proposals are not identical, we appreciate the fact that the proposal released today by leaders on Capitol Hill builds on the private sector and employer-provided coverage. Whether through vouchers or tax credits, both proposals seek tax equity for health coverage and recognize that those most likely to be uninsured are lower income Americans, and they need targeted assistance to afford coverage.

We welcome the opportunity to find common ground with Congress to find a cure to the epidemic that plagues uninsured Americans.

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