CAHI Supports High-Risk Pools for Georgia; High-Risk Pools Necessary for Affordable Health Insurance

3/25/2003

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

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- The Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) believes that high-risk pools are one of the best ways to increase access to affordable health insurance for those with medical conditions who have been denied health coverage.

Last year congress made $100 million available to the states to fund and establish high-risk pools. Thirty states already have these pools, which provide a safety net for uninsured people with a pre-existing condition who have been declined coverage, or whose medical condition has made the cost prohibitively high. CAHI encourages all states that haven't implemented high-risk pools, to start them -- and start them soon.

"We applaud the state of Georgia for considering legislation that would increase its citizens access to affordable health insurance," stated CAHI Director Dr. Merrill Matthews. "The U.S. Congress made the high-risk pool funding available; now Georgia legislators must take action to help those who need health insurance coverage."

Recently, CAHI began airing a 60-second radio ad promoting high-risk pools. The ad, which informs Americans about high-risk pools, is currently running on the Radio America network and can be found on CAHI's website at http://www.cahi.org.

"As the nation continues to debate the best way to ensure access to affordable coverage, high-risk pools must be a part of the solution," Matthews concluded.

To schedule an interview with CAHI Director Merrill Matthews 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.