Tuesday
Feb232010
House Will Strip Antitrust Protection For Health Insurance Companies, Says Pelosi
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 5:24PM
By Chingyu Wang - Talk Radio News Service
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that she and other Democrats in the House will try to pass the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act tomorrow. The bill would remove antitrust protections for the major health insurance companies.
"This bill is about restoring competition, fairness, and choice to the health insurance industry. After 65 years, it is now time for the unfair advantage insurance companies have held over American families and small businesses to end," said Pelosi. "We have set a better legislation. It's about affordability for the middle class, it's about accessibility of many more people to health care, and affordability is central to that."
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said he is optimistic about the bill's chances of passing when it is brought to the House floor tomorrow.
"I'm confident it'll pass, and I surely hope that it passes with a significant bipartisan vote," said Hoyer.
Former insurance executive Wendell Potter viewed the legislation as a major step toward ending what he described as the profit domination of seven major companies in the health insurance field.
"In my view it's a beginning comprehensive reform that will benefit average Americans, working individuals and families more than the big insurance companies," said Potter.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that she and other Democrats in the House will try to pass the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act tomorrow. The bill would remove antitrust protections for the major health insurance companies.
"This bill is about restoring competition, fairness, and choice to the health insurance industry. After 65 years, it is now time for the unfair advantage insurance companies have held over American families and small businesses to end," said Pelosi. "We have set a better legislation. It's about affordability for the middle class, it's about accessibility of many more people to health care, and affordability is central to that."
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said he is optimistic about the bill's chances of passing when it is brought to the House floor tomorrow.
"I'm confident it'll pass, and I surely hope that it passes with a significant bipartisan vote," said Hoyer.
Former insurance executive Wendell Potter viewed the legislation as a major step toward ending what he described as the profit domination of seven major companies in the health insurance field.
"In my view it's a beginning comprehensive reform that will benefit average Americans, working individuals and families more than the big insurance companies," said Potter.
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