Groups Stump For Risk Pool Funding

The briefing sponsors–the Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage, Washington; the National Association of Health Underwriters, Arlington, Va.; and Communicating for Agriculture and the Self-Employed, Fergus Falls, Minn.–pointed out that Congress has not yet appropriated 2007 risk pool funding, even though lawmakers have authorized spending up to $75 million on risk pool support.

Briefing participants included pool administrators from states such as Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi and Texas.

The participants also included Jim Cassell, a Maryland resident with an uninsurable child, and Colleen Smith, a Maryland child care provider with a serious medical condition and an annual income of just $15,000.

“I don’t think I could manage to find the money to pay for health insurance that is a lot higher than what I have now– even if I could get it,” Smith said.