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| For Immediate Release | Contact | Phone |
| Thursday, October 8, 2009 | Eve Weissman, NJ For Health Care | 732-246-4772 |
| Ray Castro, New Jersey Policy Perspective | 609-393-1145 x11 | |
Advocates Release New Report on House Health Care Reform Bill, Demonstrates Positive Impact for New Jersey
New report shows HR 3200 will benefit NJ's working families, small businesses, children, adults, seniors, and the uninsured
*** Report available at www.njpp.org (click here) ***
HIGHLAND PARK, NJ — Today, New Jersey health care reform advocates released a new report by New Jersey Policy Perspective. "The Right Rx for NJ: National Health Care Reform" (report available at www.njpp.org) shows the impact of the health care bill currently in the US House of Representatives (HR 3200) on New Jersey's public health and economy. Advocates including Ray Castro, Senior Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective, Eve Weissman, Health Care Campaign Coordinator for New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund, Reverend Bruce Davidson, Director of the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry in New Jersey, and Kelly Conklin, a small business owner in Bloomfield, NJ and spokesperson for the NJ Main Street Alliance participated in the event.
The report analyzes the major provisions in "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" (HR 3200) and describes how the bill will benefit New Jersey residents including low and middle income families, small businesses, children, adults, seniors, people with disabilities, and the uninsured. It is the first and only comprehensive analysis examining the impact of HR 3200 on New Jerseyans to date. New Jersey Policy Perspective has also broken down the information by county and Congressional District.
Some of the Report's Key Findings:
- HR 3200 would cause the number of uninsured New Jerseyans to decrease by an estimated 1 million, primarily because of an estimated $34 billion over ten years in federal health subsidies to low- and middle-class people to obtain or maintain their insurance and an expansion of Medicaid to assist low-income adults.
- All of the mostly middle class 5.6 million New Jerseyans who receive employer-based insurance would benefit from the peace-of-mind of knowing that if their premiums become unaffordable or they lose their job affordable, quality insurance will be available.
- Almost all groups in New Jersey would benefit from at least some provision in the legislation: many of the 1.2 million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare would receive better drug prescription coverage; 1.5 million insured children would be guaranteed essential benefits like vision coverage; and most of New Jersey's 250,000 uninsured children would have health insurance.
- HR 3200 would likely reduce the cost of insurance for small employers which could save jobs, preserve wages, and increase their competitiveness by making health insurance more affordable. The estimated $1.3 billion in federal tax credits in New Jersey would be an incentive for these businesses to continue providing health coverage to their employees.
- The vast majority of New Jerseyans would benefit — only those whose incomes exceed $350,000 a year (less than 3% of New Jersey tax filers) would see their federal taxes increase as a result of the legislation. The economy would benefit from the infusion of new federal funds and the savings generated from improved health outcomes would benefit everyone.
HR 3200 would help New Jersey state government which would receive more federal funds than most states because of the types of health services — some of which are now funded entirely with state funds — that would be funded at higher federal matching rates.
"HR 3200 addresses many of New Jersey's major health coverage problems. Almost all groups including working families, seniors, disabled persons, children, adults and small businesses in New Jersey would benefit either directly or indirectly by some provision in the bill," said Castro. "It would also provide much needed help to the state government by increasing the federal government's share of funds for health services to low and moderate-income households. And it would do all this at no cost to most New Jersey taxpayers. All of this makes the legislation a win for New Jersey."
"Given the large number of people without insurance and the high cost of health coverage in New Jersey, health reform is a necessity not an option," said Weissman. "Without it, the state's public health and its economy are threatened. New Jerseyans need health reform and we need it now."
"In the current economic downturn, with unemployment reaching record highs, a growing number of people simply cannot afford to keep their health care coverage," added Reverend Davidson. "I recently conducted a funeral service for a 60-year-old small business owner, who gave up his health care insurance this year when his business began to suffer from the effects of the economy. His death could have been prevented if his coverage had been in place, but he failed to seek timely medical attention because he was afraid the cost would be prohibitive."
The Report also provides recommendations to ensure New Jerseyans benefit from the final bill by maintaining the following provisions in HR 3200:
- Set an income limit at 400% FPL ($88,200/yr for a family of four) for health insurance subsidies.
- Limit cost sharing in the subsidies and in private insurance; insurance must be affordable.
- Promote choice and competition through a public health insurance option.
- Guarantee Medicaid eligibility for childless adults and increase primary care provider rates with at least 90% federal matching funds.
- Protect essential benefits in all plans for children and rehabilitation for people with disabilities.
- Improve Medicare by eliminating the "doughnut hole" in prescription drugs.
- Require everyone to have health insurance as long as it is affordable.
- Require larger employers to either "pay or play" to increase employer-provided insurance.
"The Right Rx for NJ: National Health Care Reform" also notes the consensus in Congress on important elements of reform regarding the private insurance marketplace
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New Jersey Policy Perspective is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that conducts research on state issues. The organization offers credible, pointed, progressive analysis and commentary aimed at broadening debate in New Jersey.
New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1983, promoting the empowerment of low- and middle-income people through research, education and training around public policy issues and direct counseling and services.
NJ For Health Care is a broad-based alliance of health care, consumer, labor, senior, women's, faith-based, student, disability, civil rights and social justice organizations working to find a long-term solution to the health care crisis facing New Jersey and the nation.
