Council for Affordable Health Insurance Announces Cover the Uninsured Solution No. 1: Tax Credits

3/10/2003

From: Tom Gardner of the Council for Affordable Health Insurance, 703-836-6200, ext. 386; Web Site: http://www.cahi.org

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 10 - This week is Cover the Uninsured Week. While the Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) believes it is important to highlight the plight of the uninsured, the country also needs solutions -- and we need them now.

This is why CAHI is announcing one solution a day during Cover the Uninsured Week. Each one of these solutions, if enacted, would help the uninsured gain health insurance coverage. If all were enacted, the number of uninsured would plummet because more people would have access to affordable health insurance.

Today's solution to covering the uninsured: Tax Credits.

"Most of the uninsured are lower- and middle-income workers who don't have the money to buy health insurance," stated CAHI Director Dr. Merrill Matthews. "By reducing the effective cost of a policy, tax Credits help the uninsured buy the insurance plan that is best suited for them."

Rep. Bill Lipinski (D-Ill.) and Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.) recently introduced the Fair Care bill, which provides tax credits so the uninsured can purchase private health insurance. Under the legislation, an uninsured family could get up to $3,000 a year ($1,000 per individual) in a refundable tax credit to purchase health insurance. The legislation also establishes state health insurance safety-net programs.

To schedule an interview with CAHI Director Merrill Matthews, or for more information on tax credits, contact Tom Gardner, director of communications, at (703) 836-6200, ext. 386 or tgardner@cahi.org

CAHI is a research and advocacy association of insurance carriers active in the individual, small group, MSA, and senior markets. CAHI's membership includes health insurance companies, small businesses, physicians, actuaries, and insurance brokers. Since 1992, CAHI has been an advocate for market-oriented solutions such as MSAs to the problems in America's health care system.