Some decidedly healthy options for covering America’s uninsured

Covering the uninsured: A goal within reach?

Date published: 5/20/2005

WASHINGTON—The 45 million Americans without health insurance are looking for more than promises. They are looking for an improvement in their lives, and we owe it to them to deliver.

Many just gathered in Washington for “Cover the Uninsured” week—but addressing this important issue is not a problem reserved for the first week in May. The initiatives introduced last week were merely the beginning of a fight that will continue.

Given our nation’s track record on the uninsured, it is reasonable to presume long odds. Some in Washington continually propose so-called solutions that would likely do more harm than good. While a few people may obtain coverage under these proposals, it would come at the expense of many who are currently insured. Simply put, these are feigned attempts to solve a very serious problem.

Just last week, three bills were introduced that provide real solutions.

Collectively, our bills could cover half the uninsured population in the United States—more than 20 million people. These proposals are based on tried and true programs. They are realistic, sensible and essential.

The FamilyCare Act, the Medicare Early Access Act, and the Small Business Health Insurance Promotion Act are targeted to build on programs that already work, and ensure that three fast-growing, vulnerable segments of the uninsured have access to affordable health coverage: lower-income families; retired workers not yet eligible for Medicare; and small-business employees, including the self-employed.

The FamilyCare Act builds upon the Medicaid and CHIP programs, two programs that have had great success in insuring children and people with disabilities. The bill covers working parents and makes it easier for states to find and enroll eligible children and their parents in these programs. This bill provides health care coverage for 7.5 million low-income parents while further expanding coverage for children.

The Medicare Early Access Act allows the 3.5 million uninsured people over age 54 and not yet eligible for Medicare to purchase Medicare coverage. Enrollees would pay a fair premium and would receive all the benefits Medicare beneficiaries enjoy. To make these premiums affordable, enrollees would receive a tax credit to cover 75 percent of the cost.

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Date published: 5/20/2005