America’s Health Insurance Plans has released a proposal calling for federal legislation to provide significant financial incentives to states and to change federal tax policy to give uninsured Americans access to affordable health insurance coverage. The plan is designed to expand access to health insurance to all children within three years and to 95% of adults within 10 years. AHIP estimates that implementing this proposal would cost the federal government approximately $300 billion over 10 years.
Key elements of the AHIP plan include: expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program for all uninsured children from families with incomes under 200% of the federal poverty level; expanding Medicaid to include single adults with incomes under 100% of the FPL; and establishing a universal health account so individuals can purchase any type of healthcare coverage and pay for qualified medical expenses with pre-tax dollars, with federal matching grants for contributions made by working families. The proposal also establishes a health tax credit of up to $500 for low-income families who secure health insurance for their children and creates a new $50 billion federal performance grant to assist states in expanding access to coverage.
