"Patient Protection" Bills Give Short Shrift To The
Uninsured
Apr 09, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 1999
CONTACT: Richard Coorsh
(202) 824-1787
rcoorsh@hiaa.org
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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