IEEE-USA strongly supports the new Small Business Fairness Act of 2001, as introduced 9 May in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Ernie Fletcher (R-Ky.) and Cal Dooley (D-Calif.), and in the United States Senate by Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.).

"This important legislation will enable professional societies (made up of individuals) and trade associations representing small businesses to offer health insurance benefits for their members on the same terms and conditions as Fortune 500 companies and labor unions," said Dr. Timothy Grayson, who chairs IEEE-USA’s Engineering Employment Benefits Committee. "Such reforms are urgently needed to improve access to care by making health insurance more available and affordable for all Americans."

Although professional societies like the IEEE are doing their part to expand coverage and make it more affordable by providing supplementary health insurance programs for their members, disparate coverage and funding requirements in different jurisdictions make it difficult, expensive and, in some cases, impossible to offer such programs in all states where their members live.

"The IEEE, for example, is currently unable to make its plan available to members in eight states (Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and North Carolina)," Grayson said.

Association health plans are also needed to help individuals who work for large companies with generous benefits purchase affordable coverage if they change or lose their jobs. Easier access to affordable care is absolutely essential in today’s increasingly mobile economy.

To make matters worse, dramatic increases in premiums are also forcing many mid-sized and smaller employers to reduce benefits, increase cost-sharing requirements or eliminate their health benefits altogether. "We urge Congress to move expeditiously to enact this badly needed legislation," Grayson said.

For more information, visit the IEEE-USA Legislative Action Center at http://capwiz.com/ieeeusa.