A U.S. Census Bureau study released Sept. 30 shows the number of
Americans who lack health insurance coverage increased by 1.4
million during 2001, bringing the total number of uninsured in the
United States to 41.2 million. A majority of the increase resulted
from those who had been getting health coverage from their jobs,
especially if they work for small businesses. Factors in this
pattern include small-business employers who stop offering
insurance because of higher expenses and workers opting to drop
coverage when their employers require greater co-payments for
insurance costs.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao called upon the Senate to
pass association health plan (AHP) legislation to help the
uninsured gain access to quality, affordable health insurance. On
Sept. 13 at a Capitol Hill press conference, Chao issued a report
from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) supporting AHPs. Chao was
joined by Sens. Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-Mo.), ranking Republican
of the Senate Small Business Committee, and Tim Hutchinson
(R-Ark.), as well as Reps. Ernie Fletcher (R-Ky.), Sam Johnson
(R-Texas) and...
Log in or register for FREE access to this article and other Professional Roofing online content.