"We have been following HB 1184 and SB 407.  Both bills essentially do the same thing: allow health insurance companies to sell policies across state lines.  Our concern is that they will circumvent vital consumer protections and essential mandated medical services by allowing Georgians to purchase insurance policies across state lines and from states that might not provide the same level of protections and mandates.

Though both bills have passed their respective chambers, we have just learned that the House Insurance Committee amended SB 407 to strip it of all the mandate protections that had been added through amendments to now look like HB 1184.  This is bad news for Georgians. 

As SB 407 is currently written, out-of-state insurers would be exempted from state laws governing required benefits and consumer protections. Now that SB 407 has been amended and voted out of the House Insurance Committee, it is on to the House floor for a vote then on to the Senate for an agree or disagree motion.  This is why we need your help now--this chain of events starts today!

Please contact your State Representative AND Senator and tell them to vote NO on SB 407 when it comes to a vote. 

Here are some talking points to assist you: (Do not worry if you do not get through to the legislators directly; feel free to leave a message with their staff members.)

- Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I am calling on behalf of Georgians for a Healthy Future to urge you to vote NO on SB 407.

- This legislation would abandon the essential consumer protections and minimum coverage requirements that Georgians currently count on when they purchase an individual health insurance policy.

- Health insurance will become much more expensive-and potentially unaffordable-- for those most in need of medical services.

- This would encourage insurance companies to sell plans that don't include important benefits such as cancer screenings, well-baby checkups and other preventive measures that the Legislature has already determined should be standard for policies they sell in our state.

- Rather than risk the health of our citizens with inadequate, bare bones plans, state leaders would be wiser to back efforts to make individual policies adequate and affordable for all Georgians.

We fully support the effort to improve the individual health insurance marketplace but have grave concerns and a wealth of questions about the approach that SB 407 takes.  Please support our efforts by making these important phone calls today!

Thank you for all you do to ensure a healthier Georgia!"

Sincerely,

Amanda Ptashkin, JD

Outreach & Advocacy Director

Georgians for a Healthy Future

100 Edgewood Ave

Suite 815

Atlanta, GA 30303

404-890-5804

aptashkin@healthyfuturega.org