AMA adds individual responsibility to plan to cover the uninsured

For immediate release
June 13, 2006

CHICAGO — Today, the American Medical Association (AMA) voted at its Annual Meeting to support individual responsibility as an additional approach to cover the more than 46 million uninsured Americans.

"The uninsured live sicker and die younger than the rest of Americans primarily because they do not seek care before their health status reaches crisis proportions," said AMA Board Member Ardis Hoven, MD. "Physicians, policymakers and others must work together to extend health care coverage to all."

Under the AMA plan, individuals and families earning greater than 500 percent of the federal poverty level ($49,000 for an individual and $100,000 for a family of four) would be required to obtain a minimum of catastrophic health care and evidence-based preventive health care, using the tax structure to achieve compliance. Upon implementation of a system of refundable tax credits or other subsidies to obtain health care coverage, the AMA would support a similar requirement for those earning less than 500 percent of the federal poverty level.

"Americans will be healthier because they will get the care they need when they need it," said Dr. Hoven. "The societal benefits of having more people insured, leading healthier lives, would be enormous."

"This policy is the newest addition to the AMA's plan to cover the uninsured," said Dr. Hoven. "The AMA plan now includes: tax credits for the purchase of insurance; individually selected and owned health insurance; the expansion and formation of new insurance options; changes in health insurance market regulations; and individual responsibility."

The AMA will advocate for federal legislation to implement this plan. "We look forward to working with the U.S. Congress to address the problem of the uninsured," said Dr. Hoven.

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For more information, please contact:

Mollie E. Turner
AMA Media Relations
(202) 789-7430

Katherine Hatwell
AMA Media Relations
(202) 789-7419