Thousands of Montanans Could Lose Private Insurance, Study Shows

WASHINGTON, July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An estimated 256,700 residents
in Montana could lose their private, employer-based coverage if Congress
passes a House health reform bill, according to state-specific analysis of The
American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 released this week by The
Heritage Foundation.

Heritage commissioned The Lewin Group, a highly respected health care policy
and management consulting firm, to examine the impact a newly created
government-run health plan within the House bill would have on Americans with
private health insurance, including employer-based coverage, as well as its
impact on Montana's doctors and hospitals.

In addition to examining the national impact, Lewin analyzed several states
including Montana to show how the major regions of the United States would be
affected. Lewin's estimates assume that all of the state's employers become
eligible for enrollment in the new public plan and health insurance exchange
starting in the third year of implementation.

Of the estimated 489,200 Montana residents with private health insurance, 52
percent would transition out of private coverage, Lewin reports. Plus, 62
percent of the state's population who get their private insurance from the
workplace could have their existing coverage change or disappear under the
House health bill.

"The data highlights the nasty, unintended consequences a government-run
health insurance plan could have on states," said Heritage Vice President
Stuart Butler. "Many employees will be pushed into a public plan as employers
respond to the legislation's incentives to drop coverage."

Another key finding from Lewin:
-- 32 percent of Montana's uninsured population would still lack
coverage. Of the estimated 180,800 people without health coverage, the
legislation would only reduce the uninsured by 123,200, leaving 57,600
Montanans without coverage.

Read the entire study and find more health reform information at Heritage's
new Web site www.fixhealthcarepolicy.com.

SOURCE The Heritage Foundation

Heritage Media Services, +1-202-675-1761