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For
Immediate Release
February 23,
2010 | |
Communications
Coordinator
1-800-838-0388
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Committee Recommends Cap Bill to
Pass in Maine
Bipartisan Bill would Remove Lifetime and Annual
Caps from Health Insurance
Policies |
(Augusta) Consumers
for Affordable Health Care (CAHC) is pleased the
Insurance and Financial Services (IFS) Committee
recommended passing LD 1620, "An Act to Protect
Health Care Consumers from Catastrophic Medical
Debt" by a vote of nine
to four.
The bill asks that lifetime and annual caps be
eliminated from health insurance plans. CAHC released a
report last month, "False Security:
Health Insurance That Doesn't Pay When You Need It
Most," which explains why
getting rid of these caps is better for Maine people and
our economy.
The Committee will
consider an amendment to the bill February
23rd which would grandfather in a limited
number of insurance plans from having to remove their
caps.
"It's exciting to
see that Maine can once again lead the nation with
health insurance protections for our hard working
families. If
this passes, this will be a first in the nation measure.
While elimination of lifetime and annual caps is included
in national health reform bills being considered by
Congress, some proposals delay the provision from
taking effect for many years. We need to make
sure lifetime and annual caps are prohibited immediately
and do so at the state level. It's encouraging
to have the IFS Committee majority support," says
CAHC Executive Director Joe Ditre.
Economists have
proven that when people have good health coverage and
can get the care they need when they need it, the cost
to our community and health care system is far less than
when people are uninsured. By setting caps
for people who still need care, it will not only hurt
the health of our neighbors, friends and family, but it
will also cost all taxpayers much more in the long
run. It
just makes sense to allow people to remain on their
private insurance
coverage. |
Consumers for Affordable Health Care
is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that has been
helping Maine people get quality, affordable health care
for more than 20 years.
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For more information or to schedule interviews
contact: Cherilee Budrick, Communications Coordinator
Consumers for Affordable Health
Care 207-622-7083 cbudrick@mainecahc.org
Consumers for Affordable
Health Care * P.O. Box 2490 *
Augusta, ME *
04330-2490 | |
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