Feingold will oppose S 1955, the so-called Health Insurance ..ACT. It

[rodeodance]

went to the Senate floor this week--call your Senators.




-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Responding to your message
Date: Tue, 02 May 2006 08:40:14 -0400
From: Senator Russ Feingold - Do not reply to this message <[e-mail]>
To: xxxxx




May 2, 2006



Dear xxxxxx

Thank you for contacting me regarding legislation to create
association health plans (AHPs). I appreciate hearing from you,
and I share your concerns.

I oppose S. 1955, the so-called Health Insurance Marketplace
Modernization and Affordability Act. As you know, under
proposals such as S. 1955 and S. 406, small businesses could
purchase health care coverage through associations and other
organizations that meet federal requirements. S. 1955 would allow
AHPs to override state mandates and regulatory requirements,
would further splinter the health insurance market, and would also
hurt the sick people that the measure is intended to help. I am
committed to ensuring that all Americans have access to the high-
quality, affordable health care we all deserve, but AHPs will not
bring us closer to that goal.

While oppose AHPs, I support helping businesses pool together to
increase their purchasing power for health insurance. I have
introduced legislation, along with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME),
that would help small businesses reduce health care premiums and
improve the quality of employees' health care. S. 820, the
Promoting Health Care Purchasing Cooperative Act, would
establish a two-tiered grant program to help both large and small
businesses form group purchasing cooperatives. These
cooperatives have helped businesses obtain enhanced benefits,
reduce health care rates, and improve the quality of their
employees' health care. By working together, small businesses in
cooperatives have been able to develop better quality insurance
plans and negotiate more reasonable rates without circumventing
state insurance requirements or limiting access to many important
services.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to hearing
from you in the future.


Sincerely,

Russell D. Feingold
United States Senator

If you wish to contact me again, please visit
http://feingold.senate.gov/contact.html.