BILL TO CLOSE LOOPHOLE RELATED TO MOTORCYCLIST HEALTH INSURANCE PASSES
U.S. SENATE
The American Motorcyclist Association and All-Terrain Vehicle
Association report that a bipartisan bill to end health-care
discrimination against motorcyclists and ATVers has cleared the U.S.
Senate.
The measure, S. 423, now goes to the House for consideration. AMA
Government Relations Department officials hope the House will give final
approval to the measure, and urge all motorcyclists, ATVers and others
to contact their U.S. representatives to support the bill.
The measure would bar health plans from denying benefits to people
injured while riding motorcycles, ATVs, horses, snowmobiles, skiing, or
engaging in other legal recreational or transportation activities.
Acting in the wee hours of the morning on November 21, the Senate
approved the bill by unanimous consent.
"Americans who enjoy recreational or transportation activities such as
riding motorcycles should have the right to the same health insurance
protection whether they are injured on their bike or in their home,"
said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who co-authored the bill. "I
thank the American Motorcyclist Association for their support as I
drafted this legislation, which more clearly defines health insurance
regulations to ensure that people participating in legal recreational
and transportation activities are covered under an equal standard of
protection."
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), who co-authored the bill, agreed.
"If Americans want to enjoy legal transportation and recreational
activities, the thought of being refused medical coverage shouldn't stop
them," Feingold said. "That's why I have been fighting alongside U.S.
Sen. Susan Collins to pass this bill giving people the protection they
deserve while taking part in activities like motorcycling, which so many
people in my home state of Wisconsin enjoy."
Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, and AMA
Washington Representative Patrick Holtz, were elated that the Senate
passed the bill, but noted more work needs to be done.
We can't let up, they said. We need to get this passed in the House.
In the House, U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) plans to work for
passage of the bill.
"I am pleased that the Senate has taken action to end the discrimination
in health care coverage against those participating in recreational and
transportation activities," Strickland said. "I am looking forward to
working with my colleagues in the House to pass (the bill) to close up
the unfair HIPAA loophole that allows this discrimination."
In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA), which prohibits companies from denying
access to employer-sponsored health insurance for motorcyclists and
those who participate in other recreational activities. However, federal
regulators created a loophole that allows the denial of benefits under
various conditions.
The AMA, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, Motorcycle Industry Council
and various state motorcyclists' rights organizations are working to get
this loophole-closing legislation approved.
You can find out who your U.S. representative is and contact him or her
to support the passage of S. 423 by going to the AMA website at
www.AMADirectlink.com and clicking on the AMA Rapid Response Center
button on the left. There, you will find a message that you can send
immediately.
The American Motorcyclist Association, founded in 1924, is a non-profit
organization with more than 265,000 members. The Association's purpose
is to pursue, protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists, while
serving the needs of its members. For more information, visit the AMA
website at www.AMADirectlink.com, or call 1-800-AMA-JOIN. For the latest
news releases, visit the AMA News Room at
http://home.ama-cycle.org/newsroom. :ride:
U.S. SENATE
The American Motorcyclist Association and All-Terrain Vehicle
Association report that a bipartisan bill to end health-care
discrimination against motorcyclists and ATVers has cleared the U.S.
Senate.
The measure, S. 423, now goes to the House for consideration. AMA
Government Relations Department officials hope the House will give final
approval to the measure, and urge all motorcyclists, ATVers and others
to contact their U.S. representatives to support the bill.
The measure would bar health plans from denying benefits to people
injured while riding motorcycles, ATVs, horses, snowmobiles, skiing, or
engaging in other legal recreational or transportation activities.
Acting in the wee hours of the morning on November 21, the Senate
approved the bill by unanimous consent.
"Americans who enjoy recreational or transportation activities such as
riding motorcycles should have the right to the same health insurance
protection whether they are injured on their bike or in their home,"
said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who co-authored the bill. "I
thank the American Motorcyclist Association for their support as I
drafted this legislation, which more clearly defines health insurance
regulations to ensure that people participating in legal recreational
and transportation activities are covered under an equal standard of
protection."
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), who co-authored the bill, agreed.
"If Americans want to enjoy legal transportation and recreational
activities, the thought of being refused medical coverage shouldn't stop
them," Feingold said. "That's why I have been fighting alongside U.S.
Sen. Susan Collins to pass this bill giving people the protection they
deserve while taking part in activities like motorcycling, which so many
people in my home state of Wisconsin enjoy."
Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, and AMA
Washington Representative Patrick Holtz, were elated that the Senate
passed the bill, but noted more work needs to be done.
We can't let up, they said. We need to get this passed in the House.
In the House, U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) plans to work for
passage of the bill.
"I am pleased that the Senate has taken action to end the discrimination
in health care coverage against those participating in recreational and
transportation activities," Strickland said. "I am looking forward to
working with my colleagues in the House to pass (the bill) to close up
the unfair HIPAA loophole that allows this discrimination."
In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA), which prohibits companies from denying
access to employer-sponsored health insurance for motorcyclists and
those who participate in other recreational activities. However, federal
regulators created a loophole that allows the denial of benefits under
various conditions.
The AMA, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, Motorcycle Industry Council
and various state motorcyclists' rights organizations are working to get
this loophole-closing legislation approved.
You can find out who your U.S. representative is and contact him or her
to support the passage of S. 423 by going to the AMA website at
www.AMADirectlink.com and clicking on the AMA Rapid Response Center
button on the left. There, you will find a message that you can send
immediately.
The American Motorcyclist Association, founded in 1924, is a non-profit
organization with more than 265,000 members. The Association's purpose
is to pursue, protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists, while
serving the needs of its members. For more information, visit the AMA
website at www.AMADirectlink.com, or call 1-800-AMA-JOIN. For the latest
news releases, visit the AMA News Room at
http://home.ama-cycle.org/newsroom. :ride:
