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  Discussion on Threat to health insurance for riding-related injuries
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Posted on Monday, Apr 2, 2001 - 12:02 pm:

Riders in the USA who have health insurance should note the following information.

***

Federal Agencies Propose Adverse Rules on Health Insurance Coverage for Riders

Regulations proposed by the Internal Revenue Service, the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration and the Health Care Financing
Administration could permit health insurers to exclude coverage for injuries resulting from riding and other forms of "dangerous" recreation. Although the law prohibits an employer from refusing health-care coverage to an employee based on participation in "dangerous" recreational activities, the new rules permit health insurers to deny coverage for injuries sustained in connection with these recreational activities, effectively reaching the same result.

The new regulations were jointly issued by the three federal agencies as interim rules, which means they are effective now. But the public
has until April 9 to comment on the proposals and such comments will be considered. The agencies have issued these regulations in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act (the reason for the reference in the sample letter below).

The American Horse Council will submit comments to the federal agencies in opposition to this provision. All individuals and equine organization should consider doing the same.

Comments must be submitted by April 9 to:

> CC:M&SP:RU (REG-109707-97)
> Room 5226
> Internal Revenue Service
> P.O. Box 7604
> Ben Franklin Station
> Washington, DC 20044
>
> U.S. Department of Labor
> Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
> 200 Constitution Avenue, NW
> Room C-5331 - Attention: Nondiscrimination >Comments
> Washington, DC 20210
>
> Health Care Financing Administration
> Department of Health and Human Services
> Attention: HCFA-2022-IFC
> P.O. Box 26688
> Baltimore, MD 21207

A sample letter follows. Please do not simply send this letter to the agencies. Retype it on your stationery and re-draft it to make it as personal as possible. Doing so will give it more
weight. Send the same letter to each agency.

Thanks!

************
Dear Sir or Madam:

We are writing in opposition to the non-discrimination regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)proposed by your agency in January.
Like tens of millions of other American we enjoy horseback riding. We participate as follows...

Obviously, if we are unable to purchase
health insurance that protects us as we participate in this legal activity, it will affect our continued participation by . . .

These rules will do more than keep individuals from enjoying a horseback ride. An economic study commissioned by the American Horse Council shows that recreational horseback riding has a $23.8 billion economic impact in the U.S., supports 317,000 jobs and involves 3 million horses. This segment of the American horse industry is growing rapidly. Horse owners, breeders, stables, outfitters, dude ranches, veterinarians and feed and tack stores all rely on the individual rider. The interim rules will adversely affect this entire industry.

We support the original Congressional intent of HIPAA, which is to protect individuals like horseback riders from being discriminated
against and denied health insurance coverage simply because they are participating in a legal, recreational activity. The interim rules undermine that intent. We urge you to
change the proposed rules to ensure medical coverage, including benefits, for injuries that may occur while horseback riding and engaging in
other legal, recreational activities.
Thank you for your consideration.

Posted on Friday, Apr 6, 2001 - 11:59 am:

Thank you for this information, Lisa--will you be able to keep us posted on the outcome? I think it's an absurdly arbitrary ruling. I mean, where does the list of "dangerous recreational activities" end? Where I live, getting in my car and driving to the beach--or maybe just to the mall--is a far more risky activity than trotting around the arena on my horse. Just don't tell my insurer...

Posted on Friday, Apr 6, 2001 - 12:39 pm:

Sure, I will try to keep track of this and post the outcome. I can't begin to count the number of things that I do that are more dangerous than riding my horse!

Posted on Saturday, Apr 7, 2001 - 11:00 pm:

For anyone who is interested, this week's edition of The Chronicle of the Horse (a national weekly equine sports publication based in Virginia which can be viewed on-line at www.chronofhorse.com) has an interesting article, including brief interviews with a couple of insurance experts, advising riders not to panic re: these new proposed regulations. When you visit the site, scroll down a little to the section HOT NEWS and click on "In The Country". That will bring up the article.
Happy reading! Bonnie
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