ADVISORY/Questions Arise Regarding Tax Credit for Uninsured.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2001

TOPIC: During a Senate Committee hearing last week, witnesses reportedly
questioned the idea of offering tax credits for uninsured Americans as a means
for them to obtain coverage, according to an article by Reuters Health.
President Bush and many Republicans and Democrats in Congress allegedly support
the idea. However, Jack Meyer of the Economic and Social Research Institute
claims that studies indicate that unless the tax credit covers at least half of
the cost of an insurance policy, coverage rates will not boost. Meyer then
suggested that Congress consider the idea of giving a tax credit to employers,
instead of individuals, to get them to offer coverage. EXPERTS: ExpertSource
can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Mr. Vip Patel, founder and chairman of eHealthInsurance, is a well-respected expert in health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses and understands the financial needs of the nation's consumers in obtaining affordable health insurance. Mr. Patel has been involved in ongoing discussions about solutions for the uninsured with Congressional leaders, political leaders in the 50 states, academics and luminaries on the subject for over two years. Mr. Patel is available to provide valuable insight and information about how tax credits, outlined in the Reach Act, may provide a solution to the national problem of access to affordable health insurance, and the importance of setting a legislative agenda in this area. PR: Harrison Wise ([e-mail]; 212/725-2295).

Professor E. Richard Brown is the director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. He is also senior consultant for the President's Task Force on National Health Care Reform. Brown has studied and written extensively about the access of disadvantaged populations to health care. His research focuses on health insurance coverage and the effects of public policies, managed care, and market conditions on access to health services, particularly for disadvantaged populations, ethnic minorities and immigrants. Brown has worked with numerous policy makers on health care reform, including former President Bill Clinton and former Senator Bob Kerry. PR: Dan Page ([e-mail]).

Professor Mark J. Browne, of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Risk Management and Insurance Department, is an expert in health insurance and insurance underwriting. 608/263-3030; 608/262-1234 (University PR Phone)

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

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