Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced the South Carolina Health Insurance Pool will receive a $1,978,624 grant to help offset losses from 2005. The South Carolina Health Insurance Pool allows individuals with serious health problems, who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid and can not obtain individual insurance coverage, to purchase insurance through a state administered program. In 2005, approximately 2,200 South Carolinians were enrolled in this plan. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ####