Talent Sees Census Bureau Uninsured Stats As Chance To Talk Up AHPs

Federal government statistics show the number of Americans without health insurance is on the rise. Figures from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate the number of Americans without health insurance rose to 45-Million in 2003 – up 1.4-Million from 2002. Senator Jim Talent is using this report to once again tout his proposal for Association Health Plans, or AHPs. It’s a proposal that would create national cooperatives for health insurance and would allow small business people to band together to purchase affordable health insurance for their employees. Talent says the biggest opposition comes from the big insurers who see AHPs as a threat to their profits. The U.S. House has approved the idea, but the proposal is going nowhere in the Senate.