AHP Coalition: Stand Up for Working Americans B Pass The Small Business Health Fairness Act

WASHINGTON, July 26 /U.S. Newswire/ — As the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to vote on Association Health Plan legislation, the Coalition Supporting Access & Choice Through Association Health Plans (AHP Coalition) released the following statement urging the U.S. House of Representatives to take meaningful action to give millions of small-business owners access to more affordable health insurance through the creation of AHPs:

“Today’s vote on the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525) is an opportunity for the U.S. House to reaffirm their support for the small-business men, women and families in their cities and towns who are often forced to shoulder the greatest share of increases in health care costs.

“Now, in the face of fierce opposition from those who would rather put politics and profit margins before America’s job creators, the AHP Coalition urges House members to once again consider the facts and stand on the side of Main Street by passing the Small Business Health Fairness Act for the eighth time.

“There is a health-care cost crisis in the small-business community, and AHPs are a real, workable and immediate solution. Consider these eight facts:

— “Twenty-seven million working people are uninsured, and 63 percent of them are either self-employed or work for a small business that has less than 100 employees.

— “Small businesses have little buying power and few affordable options b five or fewer insurers control at least three-quarters of the small group market in most states.

— “According to CONSAD, a well-respected research firm, AHPs could, by conservative estimates, reduce the number of uninsured by 8.5 million.

— “The Small Business Health Fairness Act contains patient protections, consumer protections and oversight requirements that are tougher than those now required by current corporate plans and even some states.

— “2005 research reinforces the support for allowing Main Street access to the same health care as Wall Street. Eighty-nine (89) percent of national voters favor passage of AHPs. Support for AHPs crosses political lines with almost equal support among Democrats, Independents and Republicans.

— “Of those small-business owners surveyed, 77 percent said if available, they would ‘likely’ participate in AHPs. Forty-one (41) percent said they would be ‘very likely’ to participate.

— “A 2004 survey by the Federation of American Hospitals found that 93 percent of Americans support AHPs as a way to provide affordable health insurance to millions of uninsured workers and their families.

— “More than 185 organizations, representing over 12 million employers and 80 million workers, strongly support the Small Business Health Fairness Act.”

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The Coalition Supporting Access & Choice Through Association Health Plans (AHP Coalition) is comprised of more than 185 associations representing over 12 million employers and 80 million workers. More information is available online at http:// www.AHPsNOW.com.

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