May 21, 2003
Contacts: Janet Trautwein, V.P. Govt. Affairs, NAHU
tel. 703-276-3806 e-mail: jtrautwein@nahu.org
 Emily Harding, V.P. RIAHU, tel 401-848-7708

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


URGENT: Voter Action Needed in Online Healthcare Survey to Spur Legislators

Newport, Rl-- The Rhode Island Association of Health Underwriters (RlAHU), a new chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), is sponsoring an online health care survey to gauge how satisfied or dissatisfied the Rhode Island public is having just two carriers with comprehensive health insurance plans and only one option for individuals.

Rhode Islanders who pay for their own insurance or contribute to their employer's plan and have access to a computer are being asked to complete an important seven-question survey on www.nahu.org. After getting to that page, click the brown box in the upper right hand corner, "Issues and Legislation" on the next page, then "Rhode Island" and follow the instructions. The results of the survey will be electronically sent to each participant's Rl senator and representative.

The local group of concerned RI insurance brokers, who formed after John Alden Life Insurance Company and Celtic Insurance Company left RI last spring, are hoping enough people participate in the survey to provide the incentive for legislators to do what is necessary to get carriers to begin coming back to Rl this summer .

"Although we've made progress working with members of the Senate and it seems key legislators agree that competition is needed to stabilize the market, the primary stumbling block --the Dept of Health's Health Plan Certification Rules and Regulations that caused carriers to leave in the first place --has yet to be addressed," said Emily Harding, a founding member and spokesperson of RIAHU . "These rules force all companies with health insurance plans, including managed indemnity and PPO plans that don't require primary care physician use or have network restrictions, to operate like an HMO and force them to still be responsible for doctors' quality of care and malpractice."

Harding explained that just as we don't expect a bank that gives us a home equity loan for home repairs be responsible for the quality of work the contractor we hire does, the insurance companies that don't control which health care providers we choose, ought not be forced to be responsible for the doctor's or hospital's quality of care or malpractice. Unfortunately, as long as they are expected to in RI, the worse health care affordability and access will get.

A few years ago, New Hampshire residents lost 33 health plans when carriers evacuated that state due to an intolerable legislative environment, leaving only Anthem Blue Cross and two HMOs. When people began to drop their Blue Cross and HMOs in favor of more affordable short-term medical coverage, or chose to go without, legislators finally did something about it.

"Feedback we got from Senator Iron's office indicated that things might need to get worse as they did in New Hampshire before enough legislators would be willing to act to make things better, and that really concerned us. We'd like to prevent that from happening in Rhode .Island by getting voters to respond in a big way to this survey," said Harding.

Since rolling back objectionable legislation, New Hampshire has not only seen health insurance carriers return to the state but they also are seeing an increasing number of more affordable plans available.

NAHU was instrumental in assisting New Hampshire legislators with New Hampshire's recovery and wants to do the same to help RI. The question is: When will RI be ready to accept enough of the help to take the necessary help needed for a full recovery? RlAHU hopes that time is now.