This entry is a rip off from the
blog of Health Care for All Massachusetts. There's legislation brewing that would let insurers selling to the individual market set up in low requirement jurisdictions and then sell across state lines. Those who currently live in states with insurance mandates or guaranteed issue would lose out.
The essential stuff is below the fold. (Stupid rules)
Here's the original post from Jim McDonough:
July 22, 2005
More Bad Consumer Health Legislation from Capital Hill (from FamiliesUSA)
A bill known as the Health Care Choice Act would allow insurance companies to avoid consumer protections by selling individual health insurance across state lines, and is being rammed through the US House. Under this bill, insurance companies would only have to follow the laws of one state -- the state with the fewest consumer protections -- and could sell policies to consumers in all 50 states. This would create a "race to the bottom," leaving consumers with higher premiums, unpaid medical bills, and bare-bones coverage, hurting 26 million Americans who buy individual market coverage.
This legislation (H.R. 2355), introduced by John Shadegg (R-AZ), is moving quickly in the House. It is likely to come to a floor vote next week, while a companion bill, S. 1015, has been introduced in the Senate by Jim DeMint (R-SC). This bill has flown under the radar screen, and many members of Congress are unaware of the effects it would have on consumers. The so-called Health Care Choice Act is the wrong choice for consumers and a stealth attack on consumer protections, passing undetected.
Please call or e-mail your members of Congress and urge them to vote against the Health Care Choice Act. It is important that members of Congress get this message loud and strong: This legislation would hurt consumers and make insurance unaffordable. It is the wrong choice for health care consumers.
U.S. Capitol switchboard: 202-225-3121 (then ask for your Representative's office)
To find the number for your Representative's district office, visit Congress.org and type your zip code in the box.
Tell Members this bill would result in:
More consumers with unpaid medical bills,
Higher premiums and unfair premium increases, and
Bare-bones coverage that does not include critical services like diabetes treatment and cancer screening.
For more info on the Health Care Choice Act visit Families USA.