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Thursday, May 11, 2006
Health Care: Trumping states
The U.S. Senate this week appears headed toward approval of a bill that could make health care insurance available to more small-business employees but only at an unacceptable cost in higher premiums, less coverage or both.
The Heath Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act would allow businesses employing 50 or fewer to use professional trade associations to purchase health insurance programs for their employees. The House has passed similar legislation. The Senate could vote Friday.
As a group, the businesses could negotiate with insurers for lower costs. But in doing so, the bill would also allow insurance companies to ignore individual state mandates on what medical services are covered, as well as state limits on premium rate increases and differentials between patients.
According to a report by the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would mean an additional 600,000 workers with insurance coverage and reduced premiums for 75 percent of those now covered. But the expanded coverage and premium savings could come at the cost of fewer benefits for everyone -- like state-mandated mammograms, well-baby checks and cancer screenings -- and higher premium costs for people who are older and sicker.
Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna is among 41 state attorneys general opposing the legislation.
The bill offers further evidence of how the employer-based health care provision model is broken. Congress must offer more holistic solutions.
Tell us what's on your mind.
 | |
| Should states require that health care insurance plans cover certain treatments? | |
 60.1%Yes. |
35.6% No. |
| 4.3% Don't know or care. |
|
| Total Votes: 188 | |
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