CAHI Addresses the Problems of the Uninsured; Health Policy Experts Speak Out During Cover the Uninsured Week

5/7/2004

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

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 7 -- Next week has been designated as "Cover the Uninsured Week," an effort to get elected officials, the media and the public to focus on issues facing America's uninsured. While the Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) believes it is important to show the plight of the uninsured, we also need workable solutions -- and we need them now.

"The public needs to understand why we have 43 million Americans without health insurance and what we can do to solve that problem," stated CAHI Director Merrill Matthews. "The solution isn't to expand government regulation and involvement, but to reduce it, while providing a safety net for those who really need help."

Beginning May 10, five health policy experts will each explore one of the issues that is increasing the number of uninsured and discuss possible solutions.

"We really can reduce the number of uninsured - and we can do it without creating a system of socialized medicine that robs the citizens of those countries with a single-payer system of access to quality health care in a timely manner," concluded Matthews.

To schedule an interview with any of the experts, 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.