Legislative Update by Congressman Mike Ross

Cover the Uninsured Week
 
May 6, 2005
 
This week in Congress, my colleagues and I recognized Cover the Uninsured Week, a nationwide campaign which brings attention to the predicament of the millions of Americans who are without health insurance coverage.

In America today, 45 million people are uninsured and 8.4 million of those are children.  There are 465,000 people without health insurance in Arkansas alone.  Contrary to popular belief, many of those uninsured are hard working citizens who work for small businesses that simply cannot afford the high price of health insurance.  This is unacceptable and America can do better.

This week, three bills were introduced to Congress which I co-sponsored, and if implemented, will reduce the number of the uninsured by 23 million people.  Each bill targets the three fastest growing segments of the uninsured population: small business employees, low-income working parents, and those nearing Medicare age. 

The Small Business Health Insurance Promotion Act would create a 50 percent tax credit to help small businesses and the self-employed with the costs of health coverage.  The FamilyCare Act builds on the success of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid in insuring children by extending coverage to their low-income working parents.  Working parents often are employed at organizations that do not offer a health insurance benefit.  The Medicare Early Access Act would allow people between ages 55 and 64 to purchase Medicare; this would directly impact the 3.5 million uninsured Americans who are 55 and over but not yet eligible for Medicare.

Finally, we must fight to keep Medicaid well funded.  This program is the final safety net before 51 million Americans and 700,000 Arkansans on Medicaid join the ranks of the uninsured.   There has been great concern during the Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations Process that the Medicaid program will be subject to large funding cuts.  We cannot allow this to happen.

The health insurance crisis in America continues to grow and will not disappear unless Congress takes action.  In the last five years alone, the number of uninsured Americans has increased by 5.2 million people.   We must move forward in a bipartisan manner to provide affordable, quality health care coverage to small business employees, low-income working parents, and those nearing Medicare age.  As your United States Congressman, I assure you this is a top priority as I continue to represent you in the United States House of Representatives.


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