Steven Holt: “today Member after Member has been talking about the 45 million Americans who lack health insurance. At the origin of…”

“today Member after Member has been talking about the 45 million Americans who lack health insurance. At the origin of our problem, we are the only major country where your health care coverage depends on who you work for. But that is not to be debated today. We are talking about the small businesses in New Jersey and elsewhere around the country that face the high cost of health insurance. We all hear about it from our small businesses and their employees. Unfortunately, what has been brought to the floor here is a bill that creates more problems than it solves. The concept of companies working together to control costs has worked in some States, and it is certainly something I support. However, I cannot support allowing association health plans to achieve cost savings by offering inferior coverage. Allowing AHPs to circumvent existing State laws, for example, with regard to mental health coverage or contraceptive equity or mammograms or prostate screening or countless other necessary benefits is not an acceptable means to cut premiums. Supporters of this legislation claim that millions of small businesses and their employees will be eligible for this new insurance option. However, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that only 600,000 of those eligible are currently uninsured, a small fraction of this huge population. And H.R.…”