ALEXANDRIA, VA - According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of uninsured Americans increased last year by 5.7% to a total of 43.6 million Americans. The Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) believes that the solution rests in legislation currently pending in Congress.

The Census Bureau s numbers just prove that uninsured Americans need help to cover their health insurance costs, stated CAHI Director Dr. Merrill Matthews. Fortunately, Congress can do something to help them - it can pass the Fair Care for the Uninsured Act immediately.

The Fair Care legislation provides tax credits to the uninsured so they can purchase private health insurance. The legislation also establishes state health insurance safety-net programs. The tax credits provide up to $1,000 for an individual, $2,000 for a couple and an additional $500 per child, or up to $3,000 per family. Fair Care has been estimated to cost $15 billion per year.

Matthews continued, Unfortunately, in bad economic times the number of uninsured Americans always increases as workers are laid off and financially strapped companies cancel their employer-provided coverage. The good news is that being unemployed or working for an employer who doesn t provide health insurance doesn t mean a worker has to be uninsured. Fair Care will see to that.

CAHI is a research and advocacy association of insurance carriers active in the individual, small group, MSA, and senior markets. CAHI s membership includes health insurance companies, small businesses, physicians, actuaries, and insurance brokers. Since 1992, CAHI has been an advocate for market-oriented solutions such as MSAs to the problems in America s health care system.