CAHI Releases "2002 Voters' Guide to Affordable Health Insurance"; Voters Can Learn How Members of Congress Voted on Insurance Bills

10/15/2002

From: Tom Gardner of the Council for Affordable Health Insurance, 703-836-6200 ext. 386

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 15 -- Today the Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) released its "2002 Voters' Guide to Affordable Health Insurance." The guide, which includes six votes in the House and six in the Senate, is meant to inform voters of their Washington representatives' record on improving access to affordable health insurance.

"Health insurance premiums are skyrocketing and driving up the number of uninsured," asserted CAHI Director Dr. Merrill Matthews, "in part because of legislation passed -- or killed -- by Congress. Legislation that expands access to Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), tax credits and high-risk pools increases access to affordable health insurance; legislation that imposes guaranteed issue, mandates and regulations or permits unlimited malpractice awards reduces access and increases the number of uninsured."

Matthews continued, "American voters remain largely uninformed about how legislation can affect the price and availability of health insurance. This guide will help educate the public as to how their elected representatives voted on key legislation that would improve or reduce access to affordable health insurance. It is time the public began holding members of Congress accountable for their actions."

CAHI's 2002 Voters' Guide is free and available online at www.cahi.org or by request. For more information or to schedule an interview with Dr. Matthews, contact Tom Gardner director of communications at 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.