Help STOP Association Health Plans!!!

Overview:

President Bush recently urged the United State Senate to pass Association Health Plan Legislation, which he is very eager to sign into law.

What exactly are Association Health Plans?

Negative effects of AHP’s:

• Consumers would lose coverage for important state-mandated benefits. 

• Consumers would be at substantial risk for fraud and abuse. 

• AHPs would pull healthy groups and leave older, sicker individuals behind with higher insurance costs or no coverage at all. 

• Health care providers would no longer be protected by Ohio’s prompt pay law and would also be at substantial risk for not being reimbursed for medical claims. 

• Small employers and their employees would be at substantial risk for fraud and abuse. 

AHP/MEWA Study: Congressional Budget Office Says AHP Legislation Would Increase Premiums for 20 Million People January 14, 2000

• AHPs would not significantly reduce the number of uninsured

• AHPs would save money primarily by pulling healthier members from the existing insurance pool. 

• AHPs would eliminate benefits to cut costs.

• AHPs would not reduce overhead costs.

• States with aggressive insurance reforms, such as Ohio would see the most damage

Ohio Benefits at Risk Under AHP Legislation

Current State-Mandated Benefits

• Alcoholism Treatment

• Breast Reconstruction

• Cervical Cancer Screening

• Contraception

• Emergency Services

• Infertility Services

• Mammography Screening

• General Mental Health

• Minimum Maternity Stay

• Off-Label Drug Use

• Well-Child Care

Current State-Mandated Provider Access

• Chiropractors

• Dentists

• Nurse Midwives

• Optometrists

• Osteopaths

• Podiatrists

• Psychologists

Mandated Coverage to Family Members

• Adopted Children

• Conversion to Non-Group

• Handicapped Dependents

• Newborns