AUSTIN – Four public interest groups today unveiled a campaign to expand Texans' ability to buy private health insurance.

The consumer and religious organizations said they hope to broaden a review of the Texas Department of Insurance's inner workings so that lawmakers consider several changes, such as giving mom-and-pop businesses more clout in the small-group health insurance market.

Texas should join 14 other states and let self-employed people and sole proprietors buy in the small-group market, said Bee Moorhead, executive director of Texas Impact, a progressive coalition of religious groups.

That would guarantee them access to health coverage and stop insurers from refusing to cover so-called "pre-existing conditions," or chronic medical problems, she said.

Ms. Moorhead acknowledged, though, that rates in the small group market would still be too high for some. She said the insurance department needs to impose narrower limits on rate fluctuations.

The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, which periodically evaluates the effectiveness of all state agencies, recently began a review of the department. The commission is expected to take up staff recommendations about the department in late September.

Texas Impact, Texas Public Interest Research Group, Texas Legal Services Center and ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, said they will hold about eight town hall meetings around the state this summer.

One is tentatively planned for the Dallas area.

Ms. Moorhead said it would be held at Garland's Buckingham United Methodist Church on either Aug. 12 or 14. She said organizers, who include the American Association of Retired Persons, haven't settled on a date.