“This week is ‘Cover the Uninsured Week,’ but the number of uninsured Americans has increased by 6 million to 46 million during the Bush years,” said Abercrombie.  “In Hawaii, we’re accustomed to high rates of coverage, because of the Prepaid Health Care law.  But even here, the number of uninsured adults has increased to almost 95,000, with more than 50% being either low-wage workers or employees of small businesses.

“The three bills I am co-sponsoring are targeted to build on programs that already work and ensure that three fast-growing segments of the uninsured have access to affordable health coverage:  small business employees, low-income working parents, and people ages 55 to 65.

The bills being sponsored by Abercrombie would extend coverage to more than 23 million uninsured Americans.  They are:

(1) The Small Business Health Insurance Promotion Act (H.R. 2073) would create a 50 percent tax credit for small businesses to offset the cost of providing health coverage to their workers, their families and the self-employed.  Currently, over half of America’s uninsured workers are self-employed or work for a small business with fewer than 50 employees. 

(2) The FamilyCare Act (H.R. 2071) would lower costs and expand affordable coverage for working parents of children eligible for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid.  These working parents frequently do not have access to employer-provided insurance.  

(3) The Medicare Early Access Act (H.R. 2072) would allow people between the ages 55 and 64 to purchase Medicare coverage with a subsidized premium.  Currently, 3.5 million uninsured people age 55 and over are not yet eligible for Medicare. 

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