FACT CHECK: KENNEDY SUPPORTS AHP’S, DENYING HEALTH COVERAGE TO MINNESOTANS

"Letter to Editor"

10/15/2005

Press Release:
Democratic Senate Campaign COmmittee
October 15, 2005

Mark Kennedy touted his support for Association Health Plans today, but Kennedy fails to realize that the scheme would actually deny coverage to Minnesotans. Mark Kennedy may claim to care about the rising number of Minnesotans without health insurance but by supporting AHP’s he is actually denying access to the essential medical coverage Minnesotans need and deserve.

KENNEDY CLAIMS ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS ARE A GOOD THING.

Kennedy wrote, “To help make this system fairer, I have supported Association Health Plans. They allow individuals or businesses to band together and get the same lower rates as large corporations when buying insurance. This reduces the number of uninsured and treats everyone equally.” [Kennedy Weekly Column, 10/14/05]

IN FACT, ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS WOULD DENY COVERAGE TO MINNESOTANS.

Blue Cross: AHPs Would Deny Coverage For Mammograms, Maternity Care In Minnesota. “These insurers, many of them out of state, could deny coverage for many critical services now mandated by Minnesota law: mammograms, mental health services, maternity care,” said Mary Prentnieks, director of federal policy for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. [Star-Tribune, 3/26/03]

Yet Cancer is the Leading Cause of Death in Minnesota. In 2003, cancer surpassed heart disease as the state’s leading cause of death. The Star-Tribune reported that 23,000 Minnesotans will get cancer this year, and 9,000 will die from it.  [Star-Tribune, 4/19/05]

American Diabetes Association Strongly Opposes AHPs. The American Diabetes Association said that legislation creating association health plans would “negatively affect millions of Americans with diabetes.” [American Diabetes Association Press Release, 5/12/05]

And More Than 280,000 Minnesotans Have Diabetes. In February, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that 281,000 Minnesotans have diabetes, with more than 15,000 Minnesotans being diagnosed each year. [Minnesota Department of Health Fact Sheet, 2/15/05]

Star-Tribune Opposed Association Health Plans. In July, the Star-Tribune editorial board called association health plans a “false solution,” writing that legislation creating AHPs “has little potential to expand insurance coverage and great potential to sabotage the existing health care market.” [Star-Tribune editorial, 7/25/05]

-Phil Singer
202-485-3123