Industry Group Calls for Expanding Health Insurance Access, Benefits to All Consumers
November 13, 2006 — Assurant Health’s Jim Oatman Available for Expert Commentary on Implications of new AHIP Proposal for Universal Health Accounts
A comprehensive set of new policy proposals introduced today by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a trade group representing the nation’s health insurers, offers a blueprint for providing uninsured Americans with access to affordable health coverage.
The AHIP plan expands access through practical, incremental reforms and strengthens the public safety net for uninsured children and low-income families. A cornerstone of the new proposal is the establishment of Universal Health Accounts (UHAs), which allows consumers to purchase any type of health care coverage — including individual insurance, HMOs and PPOs — with pre-tax dollars.
Jim Oatman, a 20+ year veteran of the insurance industry and a Senior Vice President, Chief Actuary, Individual Medical at Assurant Health, is available to provide insights on the specifics of the AHIP plan, particularly the implications of UHAs for the several million Americans who purchase health insurance in the individual market. His discussion topics can include:
How UHAs would benefit those who buy individual coverage but are not self-employed, as well as early retirees and workers at firms that do not offer health savings accounts (HSAs).
The portability and flexibility benefits of UHAs, which subsidize coverage from multiple sources, including employers and the government.
The UHAs matching incentive provision, which offers health insurance subsidies for working families with moderate incomes. (Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the fastest growth in the uninsured population is occurring among households with incomes between $25,000 and $75,000).
Expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to make eligible all uninsured children from families with incomes below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
Editor’s Notes:
To schedule an interview with Jim Oatman, Assurant Health’s Senior Vice President, Chief Actuary, Individual Medical, please contact Peter Duckler or Phil Chang at HLB Communications, Inc. at 312/423-4930; pduckler@hlbcomm.com or 312/423-4924; pchang@hlbcomm.com
Further details on the AHIP proposal can be found at www.ahipbelieves.org.
For additional information:
Peter Duckler
312-423-4930
pduckler@hlbcomm.com
Philip Chang
312-423-4924
pchang@hlbcomm.com