Washington, May 21, 2009 -
Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) re-introduced legislation to increase the insured through the creation of Association Health Plans (AHPs). “First and foremost, we need to make health care more affordable and accessible. That is why my goal is to get every American insured. Nearly eight in ten Americans in working families lack health insurance. In fact, Texas has the highest rate of uninsured residents among all employed or self-employed adults -- 27%. Enacting Association Health Plans is the best way to increase the number of insured Americans,” said Johnson.
Association Health Plans allow small businesses to band together through associations and purchase quality health care for workers and their families at a lower cost. The initiative would increase small businesses’ bargaining power with insurance providers, give them freedom from costly state-mandated benefit packages while keeping important consumer protections in place, and lower their overhead administrative costs by as much as 30 percent – these benefits that many large corporations and many labor unions already enjoy because of their larger economies of scale.
“For many small-business owners, affordable health insurance through Association Health Plans is a matter of fairness. Fortune 500 companies have excellent access to affordable quality health insurance. Labor unions have excellent access to affordable quality health insurance. Small businesses should have that same access to affordable, quality health insurance,” said Johnson.
Johnson represents Collin and Dallas Counties
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