CAHI Applauds Fair Care Legislation; New Bill Will Help Uninsured Get Coverage

2/11/2003

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

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 11 -- Today Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-MN) and Rep. Bill Lipinski (D-IL) announced the introduction of their "Fair Care" legislation, which provides a refundable tax credit that the uninsured can use to buy health insurance.

"Simply put, people are uninsured because they don't have the money to buy health insurance," stated Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) Director Merrill Matthews. "Legislation like this helps them afford the insurance plan that is best suited for them. It's far more efficient and practical to let them get what they want, rather than letting the government tell them what they need."

The Fair Care legislation provides tax credits to the uninsured so they can purchase private health insurance; the legislation also establishes state health insurance safety-net programs. The tax credits provide $1,000 for an individual, $2,000 for a couple and an additional $500 per child, up to $3,000 per family.

Matthews continued, "We applaud Congressmen Kennedy and Lipinski for introducing legislation what will expand the uninsureds' access to affordable health insurance."

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.