September 30, 2003
For Immediate Release

The Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage
Number of Uninsured Americans Increases

(Washington, D.C.) -- CAHC Executive Director, Laura Clay Trueman, called on Congress to move forward in creating solutions to help people obtain health insurance.

“Today the Census Bureau announced the largest increase in the number of uninsured in any single year for the last decade. Fewer people are getting health insurance through their work and more people are unable to afford health insurance on their own.”

“Congress has been focusing on Medicare, working to update and expand benefits for 40 million seniors who already have coverage. Certainly, this good work must be completed. However, before Congress adjourns they need to recognize the dire situation that one out of every 7 Americans faces in being uninsured. With the magnitude of this problem increasing, it would be a real shame to not use the $50 billion already in the budget for the uninsured.”

The Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage supports the creation of tax credits that would help people afford health insurance. Already, government provides a safety net for the poor with Medicaid and health insurance for the elderly through Medicare. Most uninsured Americans work and many make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to purchase health insurance. In addition, there may be as many as 30 percent of the uninsured who are eligible for Medicaid but don’t enroll because many do not want to be on “welfare.”

Advanceable and refundable tax credits make private health insurance affordable to the uninsured. They can choose the plan that is right for them. “Already,” says Trueman, “Congress has created a health care tax credit for the trade-impacted worker. The law needs some work so that more insurers can compete for the business of the uninsured, but if Congress improves the coverage options and eligibility in this law, many more people could be helped.”