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State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2005

Date: Dec. 17, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care


STATE HIGH RISK POOL FUNDING EXTENSION ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - December 17, 2005)

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Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4519, which would extend seed grant money for the creation and operation of high risk pools. I thank my friend, Mr. Shadegg, for bringing this. This is extremely important legislation. It has the potential, if it works right, to help all of us pay lower premiums in the future for our insurance policies.

This is a nonpartisan issue. High risk pools have quietly become very important and are a very important part of our Nation's public-private patchwork of health care coverage. The folks covered are often times employed. They are paying taxes. But they cannot get coverage under a normal insurance plan.

Pools are already covering thousands of people who through no fault of their own do not have access to group health insurance and cannot simply afford the coverage in the individual market. Thirty-one States are already operating high risk pools that offer good coverage at reasonable prices.

I hope with the passage of this bill my home State now will be able to join that number. Mr. Speaker, this legislation takes us a step closer to making sure that everyone can purchase the health insurance protection they need. I know the worries associated with a serious health condition, and my constituents know the danger that catastrophic health care costs can pose to working families, especially rural families and the self-employed. High risk pools reduce costs on the government in the long term by providing a private safety net of coverage.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I hope at some point in time we will take up Mr. Shadegg's idea of tax credits for health care. But in the meantime, we need to make sure we get these high risk pools in place, and that will allow many Americans to buy health care insurance because the premiums will be reduced.

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