FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Clay Trueman
Wednesday, March 12, 2003 Executive Director, CAHC
202/626-8573

Health Care Coalition Applauds Granger-Wynn-Johnson Bill
to Reduce the Uninsured

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The diverse coalition of insurance, medical, business and consumer advocacy interests known as the Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) applauds Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX), Albert Wynn (D-MD), and House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman, Nancy Johnson (R-CT), for their initiative to help uninsured Americans. The trio announced their new tax credit legislation, “Securing Access, Value, and Equality (SAVE) to Health Care Act,” at a press conference today where CAHC members were present to express their support. “Representatives Granger, Wynn, and Johnson are focusing on the needs of 41 million Americans currently without health insurance. At a time when Congress has many competing health issues, it is imperative that this vulnerable group be remembered. The tax credits in this bill would go a long way toward addressing the needs of the uninsured,” said Janet Trautwein, Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Association of Health Underwriters, a member organization of CAHC.

Other CAHC members, like the business community, support the tax credit proposal in this bill because it offers flexibility and can be used to purchase coverage in the individual market or for an employer-sponsored health plan. “The ‘S.A.V.E.’ health care credit strengthens the employer-based health care system on which most Americans depend,” said Neil Trautwein, Director of Employment Policy for the National Association of Manufacturers, another member organization of CAHC. “Runaway costs have eaten away at workplace coverage, and moderate income families are struggling to afford their portion of premiums.”

CAHC supports the enactment of refundable health tax credits and other market-oriented approaches that would increase access to health insurance for millions of people across the country. “A number of tax credit bills have been introduced in the last two years,” said Laura Clay Trueman, Executive Director of the Coalition, “but this bill, which gives a family of four a $3,000 tax credit, is the most generous because it helps both low and middle income families. This reflects the current trends, because the fastest growing segment of the uninsured are middle income Americans.” The Granger-Wynn-Johnson bill would provide a full credit to people who earn up to $65,000. A partial tax credit is available to families with up to $ 105,000 in income. In addition, the legislation allows an additional credit of 50% of premiums not covered by the credit. This is particularly important for those older individuals and those who live in high premium areas. A national online insurance company, Ehealthinsurance, is releasing new figures of the average cost of health insurance this week. In 2002, they surveyed 100,000 members and found that the average yearly premium for an individual is $2011 and a family of four is $4188. Today’s legislation would cover 75% of the premium for an individual and 86% for a family of four.

Average Annual Premium Cost and the Value of the Granger-Wynn-Johnson Bill

The timing of today’s bill is important since the House and Senate Budget Committees have begun to debate the FY2004 budget resolutions. The Coalition hopes to see money included by both Committees to address the critical problem of the nation’s uninsured. “Right now, it may seem that the health care agenda is dominated by Medicare and medical liability, but the uninsured are not -- and will not --be forgotten. Representatives Granger, Wynn, and Johnson will see to that. They have allies in the Senate with Majority Leader Frist and others. CAHC looks forward to working with all members to enact tax credits for the uninsured,” said Trueman.

The Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage has 15 members. They are: the Healthcare Leadership Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Association of Health Underwriters, the National Association for the Self-Employed, the American Legislative Exchange Council, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, the American College of Cardiology, the American Osteopathic Association, Fortis Health, the Employment Roundtable, the American Medical Association, American Healthways, and The American Campaign for Consumer Choice and Lower Health Costs.

For further information about the Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage and related issues visit the CAHC Web site at: www.cahc.net or contact Laura Clay Trueman, Executive Director by email at ltrueman@jeffersongr.com.