MILWAUKEE, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Fortis Health, a leading provider of
individual and small group health insurance products nationwide, announces its
active participation in the Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC).
Working closely with the White House and Congressional leaders, the coalition
originally met in August at the White House to discuss strategy for
congressional debates after it was announced that Bush's $28 billion budget
for "uninsured individuals" was passed without specifics on how funds were to
be allocated. In light of the September 11th tragedy, however, CAHC's
immediate focus has shifted to debates on a series of very targeted
initiatives to stimulate the economy.
A step forward: House of Representatives passes insurance subsidy package
One initiative -- which recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives
as part of Bush's economic stimulus package -- allocates $3 billion in
state-directed aid money to those displaced workers who have lost access to
health insurance coverage. This particular debate has now moved to the
Senate.
A hotly contested piece of legislation, the insurance subsidy portion of
the stimulus package is at the center of a much larger issue -- the scope and
eligibility for health care coverage and economic aid in general. Fortis
Health, the other members of the CAHC and the Bush administration agree that
the heart of the issue is to provide an overall better solution -- a better
choice -- for affordable access to quality healthcare to the more than
38 million Americans without insurance. Accordingly, Fortis Health, with its
national perspective, provided significant input to House leadership in order
to keep the insurance subsidy proposal as broad-based and flexible as
possible, to provide consumer choice. This flexibility would allow Americans
to select the coverage that best fits their individual or family needs.
Strength of CAHC is the sum of all its participants
Reflecting its commitment and expertise in the individual, small group and
short-term medical markets, Fortis Health is the only insurance carrier on the
board of the CAHC and active in congressional debates. Fortis Health joins
the coalition's influential industry and business representatives from the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Health Underwriters
(NAHU), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American
Medical Association (AMA).
"This alliance is even more impressive when you consider the enormity of
gaining agreement among these organizations on any issue," explains Fortis
Health's Government Relations Director Kerry Smith. "Being invited to
Washington to develop a consumer-friendly strategy has created a key
opportunity for Fortis Health to assume a leadership role in influencing
federal tax and health insurance policy in this regard," adds Smith.
Opposing views: federal vs. state control
Opponents of the CAHC support the expansion of current government-assisted
programs instead of the provisions of tax incentives to make health insurance
coverage affordable. Specific to the current insurance subsidy debate in the
Senate, key legislators like Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Max Baucus
(D-MT) are promoting the use of federal funds to subsidize COBRA continuation
coverage (by federal law, the coverage that employers offering group health
insurance must offer) for recently displaced workers.
On behalf of Fortis Health and the CAHC, Smith responds, "Congress should
target the aid where it will benefit the majority of affected people -- on
private coverage -- instead of expanding welfare programs many won't accept."
Overall, Smith and the CAHC are concerned that individuals who are currently
without insurance -- even if they are eligible for government-assisted
programs -- will not take advantage of them. Smith adds, "COBRA is expensive,
not available to all sizes of employer groups and is not always designed to
fit the coverage needs of every displaced worker. The key to providing real
assistance to those who need it is maximum flexibility -- a choice in coverage
-- using state-directed funds. This would give each state the power to get
the money into the hands of those who need it most."
About The Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage
The CAHC was formed from a group of various influential industry and
business representatives that advocate the extension of private health
insurance coverage, primarily through the use of tax credits directed to
individuals and families who purchase private plans, as a means to increase
the number of medically insured in the country. The CAHC has created the
forum in which to communicate proposals with policymakers in effort to
increase both the profile of the uninsured and the momentum for legislative
action that benefits consumers.
As seen in recent surveys, the coalition increasingly represents popular
public opinion. In fact, 86% of those recently surveyed are in favor of
proposals now in Congress that would grant tax credits of up to $1,000 per
individual and up to $3,000 for a family to be used to pay for private health
insurance premiums (Source: Communicating for Agriculture and the
Self-Employed).
The CAHC encourages private citizens to contact their congressional
representatives and voice their approval of establishing tax credits for
health insurance premiums.
About Fortis Health
Fortis Health is committed to helping Americans meet their health
insurance needs. In business since 1892, the company is a leader in the
Individual Medical, Small Group, Short-Term and Student Health insurance
markets. Fortis Health provides coverage for more than one million people
nationwide. Its products are underwritten and issued by Fortis Insurance
Company, John Alden Life Insurance Company and Fortis Benefits Insurance
Company. Fortis Health is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., and has
operations offices in Minnesota, Florida, Idaho and Ohio.
Fortis Health is part of Fortis, Inc., a financial services company that,
through its operating companies and affiliates, has built leadership positions
in a number of specialty insurance market segments. Fortis, Inc. is part of
Fortis, a financial services provider active in the fields of insurance,
banking and investment. As of second quarter, 2001, Fortis had total assets
in excess of $400 billion. Fortis ranks 31st based on assets and 73rd based
on revenues on the Fortune 'Global 500' and 42nd based on revenues on the
Forbes 'International 500' list (July 23, 2001).
Members of the media interested in more information may contact Michelle
Love-Johnson at 262-523-3740 or michelle@seroka.com. Fortis Health can be
found on the Internet at http://www.fortishealth.com
SOURCE Fortis Health
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.fortishealth.com
CONTACT:
Michelle Love-Johnson of Fortis Health,
+1-262-523-3740, michelle@seroka.com
|
