| A primary role
for the Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage is to provide
advice and counsel to Congressional leaders and their staff
as they draft and work to pass legislation to help people
afford and purchase private health insurance.
Key Legislative Priorities in the 110th Congress
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Tax Credits
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Passage of a refundable and advanceable health care
tax credit that would help those with low and moderate
incomes purchase private health insurance. |
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High Risk Pools
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Annual funding for the creation and operation
of state high risk pools. |
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Health Savings Accounts
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Support legislation to make HSAs even more attractive
and affordable to various cohorts of the uninsured. For
small business owners and their employees, CAHC would
like to encourage employers to make deposits to an employees
HSA account by providing them a tax credit for money placed
in the account. |
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Increase affordability of Health Savings Accounts by
making HSA premium payments tax deductible. |
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Assist in the adoption of HSAs by large employers by
ensuring maximum flexibility and coordination with other
traditional benefits like Health Reimbursement Accounts,
Flexible Spending Accounts. |
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State Insurance Benefit Mandates
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Work with members of Congress who are interested in
exploring ways to reduce the skyrocketing numbers of benefit
mandates that are being required by states. |
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Accomplishments in the 108th Congress
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Helped secure a $50 billion reserve fund in FY 2004
Budget Resolution and worked to retain the reserve fund
in the FY 2005 Budget Resolution. |
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Actively lobbied for creation of Health Savings Accounts
by sending letters, visiting Members of Congress and their
staff, issuing press releases, and calling on CAHC members
to activate their membership in support of passage of
Health Savings Accounts. Provided critical information
to Medicare conferees as final language was crafted. Released
fact sheet, “HSAs: Myth Versus Fact,” describing
the demographics of HSA purchasers. |
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Advised on the design and testified in support of H.R.
2698, the “Health Insurance Certificate Act of 2003”
before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. |
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Helped craft and supported H.R. 1236, “Supporting
Access, Value, and Equality (SAVE) Act” introduced
on March 12, 2003 by Representatives Granger (R-TX), Wynn
(D-MD), and Nancy Johnson (R-CT). This bill has 41 cosponsors.
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Helped design and supported H.R. 4886, the “Health
Credits Act of 2004” introduced July 21, 2004 by
Representatives Hayworth (R-AZ), Peterson (D-MN), and
Ron Lewis (R-KY). |
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Supported S.1570, the “Fair Care Act of 2003”
introduced by Senators Santorum (R-PA) and Graham (R-SC)
on August 1, 2003. Cosponsored by Senators Crapo (R-ID),
Miller (D-GA), Allen (R-VA), Inhofe (R-OK), and Allard
(R-CO). |
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Supported H.R. 3901, a bill to allow deductibility of
100% of premium payments HSA-qualified coverage. Representatives
Crane (R-IL), Sam Johnson (R-TX), Cantor (R-VA), and Ramstad
(R-MN) introduced the legislation. It has 60 cosponsors.
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Supported S. 2433, the “Equity for our Nation’s
Self-Employed Act of 2004” introduced by Senators
Bingaman (D-NM), Thomas (R-WY), and Burns (R-MT) on May
18, 2004. |
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Supported H.R. 1110 introduced by Representatives Towns
(D-NY), Lipinski (D-Il) and 42 other cosponsors on March
2003. |
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Supported S. 2283, the “State High Risk Pool Funding
Extension Act of 2003” introduced by Senators Gregg
(R-NH) and Baucus (D-MT) on April 5, 2004. The legislation
to extend and expand federal funding for state high risk
pools has 11 cosponsors, including Senators Hagel (R-NE),
DeWine (R-OH), Lincoln (D-AR), Lott (R-MS), Daschle (D-SD),
Lieberman (D-CT), Enzi (R-WY), Cochran (R-MS), Bingaman
(D-NM), and Dayton (D-MN). This legislation passed the
HELP Committee in October, 2004. |
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Advised on the development and assisted in the introductory
press conference of Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK)
legislation, S. 2893, the S.A.V.E. (Securing Access, Value,
and Equality) Health Care Act. This bill creates a new
tax credit for those up to 350% of the federal poverty
level. |
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Advocated inclusion of HSAs into the FEHBP and then
helped defeat amendments that would have limited the rights
of federal employees who choose HSAs. |
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Executive Branch Implementation
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Health Savings Accounts: Facilitated the flow of information
regarding market conditions, questions, and areas in need
of clarification to the Department of Treasury as they
issued guidance on HSAs. |
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TAA Health Care Tax Credit: The interagency structure
for a refundable and advanceable health care tax credit
was established through the cooperation of the Departments
of Treasury, Labor, and the Internal Revenue Service. |
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