While most people have health insurance through their employment, far too many Americans lack health care coverage. Living without health insurance is not only frightening because of the potential for economic ruin; it can also have disastrous health consequences.

The Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage believes we can and should do better. Formed in 2001, we are a diverse group made up of national associations, small and large businesses, doctors, hospitals, drug and device manufacturers, consumer groups, insurance companies and brokers committed to making a difference.

Our mission is to educate and advise members of Congress and the President on how to help people get health coverage. We believe that Americans should have private health insurance and there are many ways to make that happen. We invite you to learn more about the uninsured and what policy solutions and legislation can make a difference.

June 23, 2008
CAHC Appropriations Victory for State High Risk Pools
Yesterday, the House Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee marked up the FY 2009 funding bill for programs in its jurisdiction, sending the bill to the full committee for its consideration.

Specifically the bill includes Full funding - $75 million - for the State High Risk Pool program that provides funds to states to establish and operate pools that provide health insurance coverage.  Full Story Here

CAHC Board Member, Janet Trautwein Testifies before the Senate Finance Committee "Health Reform Summit"
On Monday, June 16, 2008, Janet Trautwein, National Association of Health Underwriters Executive Vice President, CEO and CAHC Board Member, testified before the Senate Finance Committee's Health Summit.  The Summit brought together health reform advocates and policy leaders with varying points of view to provide expert testimony to Finance Committee Members as they pursue efforts to reform our health system. Full Story Here

Janet's testimony can be found here.

June18, 2008
Price WaterhouseCoopers released a study today based on a s survey of 500 employers and health plans covering more than 11 million lives. The report looks at what to expect in medical cost growth for 2009, key influencers of that growth, and strategies for employers and payers to respond to ever higher healthcare spending. For the full report Click Here.

June12, 2008
The Senate Committee on Finance held hearings to address the Nation's Uninsured and potential ways to address this issue. The hearing builds a foundation for potential action on the unisured. Testimony from Aetna's CEO Ron Williams was heard.

Read the testimoney of Ron Williams, Chairman and CEO of Aetna. Click Here

Also, read Ron Williams report: Aetna's Proposal for Health Care System Transformation. Click Here

Hearing statement of Senetor Max Baucus (D-Mont.) Regarding the Health Care Marketplace. Click Here

MAY 29, 2008
CRS Report for Congress
Health Insurance: State High Risk Pools
Click Here

MAY 1, 2008
America's Health Insurance Plans -AHIP HSA Report
Click Here

MAY 1, 2008
America's Health Insurance Plans -Center for Policy & Research
January 2008 Census
Click Here

MAY 1, 2008
America's Health Insurance Plans -Press Release
More than 6 million enrolled in Health Savings Account Plans
Click Here

February 25, 2008
The following report has been posted to the CRS website
Health Insurance Reform in the 110th Congress
Click Here

February 18, 2008
Presidential Transmittal on Medicare
The President has submitted legislation to the Congress pursuant to the statutory requirements in the Medicare Modernization Act (known as the 45 percent trigger) if general revenue funding exceeds 45 percent of Medicare funding two years in a row. Links to the documents are included below.
To accessthe transmittal letter from the Secretary of HHS transmitting the legislation to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate click here

To access a summary of the legislation click here:

To access the text of the legislation click here:

February 18, 2008
Blue Cross Blue Shield Study: State of the States
The Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association released a study last week on the state of states. The report examines 2007 state legislative activity in a number of policy areas, including insurance market reforms, transparency, State Children's Health Insurnace Plans, and employer subsidy programs. Click on the following links to access a copy of the report and the accompanying Blue Cross Blue Shield Association press release.

october 18, 2007
State Children's health Insurance program
The House of Representatives did not override President Bush's veto of the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Members of Congress are now looking for best ways to insure children in those families who earn above 200% of poverty. CAHC members have long advocated a health care tax credit to help families afford private coverage. As Michael Franc, Vice President of Heritage Foundation notes in his excellent column, this has also been an approach advocated by Democrats.

How to Insure Kids (Once the Shouting Dies Down) By Michael Franc, The Heritage Foundation, RealClearPolitics, 10/18/07

october 3, 2007

President Vetos SCHIP

Today President Bush followed through on his promise to veto the $35 billion dollar expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program. In a Message to the U.S. House of Representatives, Bush cited that the expansion "would move health care in this country in the wrong direction...(as) one out of every three children moving onto government coverage would be moving from private coverage"

The House of Representatives would need no less than 15 additional votes to overide the President's veto. The vote is likely to come during the week of October 15th.

August, 2007

SCHIP Debate Continues

The debate surrounding SCHIP reauthorizationheats up as the House and Senate pass their respective versions of the bill. The House bill, H.R. 3162, expands the program to $47 billion over five years, and is paid for with a 45 cent tobacco tax and changes to Medicare Advantage payments. On the other hand, the Senate-passed version was inserted into H.R. 976 and passed by a veto proof vote of 68 to 31. The Senate bill would spend $35 billion over five years paid for by a 61 cent tobacco tax.

August, 2007

Census Bureau Finds Increases in Percentage of Uninsured

The Census Bureau released a report of 2006 Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States. Findings show that the percentage of uninsured increased from 44.8 million in 2005, to 47.0 million in 2006. The number of uninsured children also rose from 8.0 million in 2005 to 8.7 million in 2006. While percentages of people relying on public or privately purchased health coverage remained statistically unchanged in 2006, the percentage of people covered by employment-sponsored health insurance decreased from 60.2% in 2005 to 59.7% in 2006.

It is likely that the decline in the percentage of people covered by employer-sponsored coverage is the result of rising health care costs across the nation. As health care costs continue to rise, small businesses are often forced to discontinue employer-sponsored coverage. Based on the report findings, it seems evident that this group must be the next to receive legislative assistance in accessing quality affordable health coverage.

To see the full report please click here.

June, 2007

New report yeilds rising health care insurance costs

eHealthInsurance released new information about the cost of health insurance in the individual market. This online broker has some of the best and most current data about premium costs, based on more than 1 million policies sold from over 160 different carriers throughout the United States.

Highlights of special interest to policy makers include:

--$1,776 - Average annual premium cost for an individual health insurance plan in 2006.
--$1,864 - Average deductible for an individual health plan in 2006.
--$4,128 - Average annual premium cost for a family health insurance plan with an average of 3 family members in 2006.
--$2,486 - Average deductible for family plan in 2006.
--40% of those purchasing coverage through eHealth were previously uninsured.
--Almost 60% of America's uninsured are under age 35.
--Ehealth's average annual premium cost for those under age 35 who purchased coverage was $1,320 per year in 2006.
--States vary dramatically in their average premium costs, ranging from Iowa where annual premiums cost $1,176 per year, to New York where they pay an average of $4076 per year.

To see the full report click here.

MaY, 2007

SCHIP Expires Later this Year

After a decade of existence, the federal program SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) is being reviewed and reauthorized by Congress this year.  This program is intended to provide health insurance for children who live in families that earned too much to be eligible for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private coverage.  Both the state and federal governments fund the program.  While SCHIP enjoys broad bipartisan support in Congress, there are some significant issues that Congress will be examining as they consider ways to improve the program.

Main challenges include:

1)Enrolling and paying for the children who are already eligible for SCHIP health insurance.

2) Helping children whose families have access to employer-provided coverage leverage SCHIP dollars to obtain family coverage through the employer.

3) Addressing disparities across the states - some states offer coverage for both children and adults up to 350% of poverty, while other states do not even provide a floor of coverage for children up to 200% of poverty.

4) Refining mission of program, ensuring that low income kids are covered first, before moving to broader populations.

CAHC Members met with Becky Shipp, Minority Staff, Senate Finance Committee to provide suggestions on the best ways to improve SCHIP as a safety net for low-income children. Below are CAHC's suggestions on improving SCHIP, along with a list of other resources and information.

CAHC SCHIP Recommendations

NAHU SCHIP Recommendations

CBO Report on SCHIP, with data regarding "crowd out" estimates of private coverage when SCHIP reaches certain income levels.

10 Senators warn "We Cannot Wait" for Health Reform
On 2/13, 2007, a bipartisan group of ten U.S. Senators sent a letter to President Bush pledging to work together on health reform in this Congress. The Senators represent a diverse ideological spectrum but agreed on the urgent need to act and put forward six principles that should guide action on health reform. In a 2/27 event at AEI, the keynote speaker --Former Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) -- talked about this letter and said that it is a most encouraging development.

Letter - signed by the following Senators:

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Sen. Robert F. Bennett (R-UT)

Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO)

Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS)

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID)

Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)

Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

President Bush offers bold new proposals for health care.  Reaction has been mixed.  Learn more about what he is proposing and how it would affect you.

President Bush's Proposals

President Bush on Healthcare

Further Treasury Department Analysis of President Bush's Standard Deduction Proposal released Monday, January 29

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“Being newly self-employed, I was looking for a health insurance option that would provide the maximum choice and allow me to control costs. With news of the Medicare legislation, our agent suggested that I consider a health savings account. The HSA insurance policy that Assurant Health provides allows my family to save about $250 each month in premiums. That is money I’ll put away for future health needs or retirement. For me, health savings accounts are a no-brainer.”
-Pam Wimbish, Aurora, Illinois