Go All Out: End Price-fixing by Insurers

[Joanne98]

from The Hill


There is gathering momentum in both the House and Senate to repeal the antitrust exemption for insurers, which I proposed three weeks ago in my column, “Optional health deal.” The reaction I have received is powerful and electric. That column has been at the top, or near the top, of the most widely read pieces on thehill.com for three solid weeks, which is unheard of for a modest columnist such as myself.

My phone has been ringing. The e-mails have been coming. Many from insider Democrats who believe it is time to end price-fixing by insurers, once and for all.

Why is the insurance industry allowed to do what would be illegal in virtually every other industry? Look at the number of states without real competition. Look at the premium increases in state after state, which can be called price-gouging.

Only yesterday one cable television segment described a disabled American who is being forced out of his insurance. An internal memo within the insurance company asked if they could eliminate coverage for all of these "dogs.”

This good patriotic American is fighting back by saying, "I am not a dog.” Disabled Americans are not dogs. No company should private call its good customers "dogs.” There is an attitude adjustment called for here and it is time to lay down the law, not let insurers be exempt from the law.

Eliminate the antitrust exemption. Restore the rule of law. Bring back real competition. Protect American consumers. End price-fixing. Now. Along with passing the public option. Enough is enough.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Go-All-Out-End-Price-fixi-by-Brent-Budowsky-091021-289.html

[AndyA]

1. Just this morning on the local news, they had a story about a retired man whose insurance

premiums are going up over 100% in January.

And why would that be?

We're in a recession. There is no explanation other than greed for a premium to increase by over 100%. The insurance companies are greedy, poorly run, and their entire business plan is flawed. People's lives and health depend on the bottom line at these companies, and profit determines whether they receive the care they are entitled to, or die.

This must be stopped.

[fasttense]

2. Will they wait 3 years to implement it like they plan for health care reform?n/t