CAHI Director Blasts Gore's Health Care Switch; Gore Tried Government-Run Health Care Before -- and Failed

11/18/2002

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

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 18 -- It was recently reported that Al Gore has flip-flopped on the idea of universal health care and now supports it (again). CAHI Director Merrill Matthews thought it was dij` vu all over again. Matthews exclaimed, "The last time Gore tried to 'reform' the health care system, he practically destroyed it!"

"Since Gore didn't win the presidency, he has been trying to get the public's attention -- and this certainly got mine," said Matthews. "He tried a government-run health care system before, calling it universal health care. When Gore and the Clintons tried to impose universal health care upon the American people, CAHI fiercely opposed them. We beat it last time, and we'll beat it again."

Matthews continued, "With all the discussion about Democrats needing new ideas, this certainly is not one of them. This tired idea goes back to the days of Harry Truman! For many democrats, the only solutions to rising health insurance premiums and the growing number of uninsured are price controls, government interference and bus trips to Canada. We learned what the American people thought of these solutions during Chellie Pingree's failed race for the U.S. Senate seat from Maine and in the overwhelming defeat of Oregon's single-payer initiative."

If Al Gore truly wants to improve the American health care system, CAHI suggests that he look at insurers like Aetna, Fortis, Destiny and Vivius, which have created new and innovative ways to get affordable health insurance to those who need it. These insurance companies and the American people need a free and open market place to take advantage of affordable health insurance. More government regulations will only make things worse.

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.