Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Chingyu Wang-Talk Radio News Service

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) CEO Karen Ignagni offered back to back remarks Wednesday that highlighted the vast differences between how the Obama administration and the insurance industry are viewing the current attempt to reform the U.S. health care system.

Sebelius, who appeared at AHIP's annual conference, suggested that funds used by AHIP for attack ads could be better spent on lowering coverage costs.

"I am hopeful that you can take the assets that you have and the influence ... and use it to start calling for comprehensive reform to pass," said Sebelius. "Instead of spending energy attacking the parts of the proposal that you don't like, come to the table."

Ignagni held a press conference immediately after and took the opportunity to raise concerns that AHIP continues to have with the legislation proposed by Democrats.

"We are committed to bringing everyone into the [health care] system," said Ignagni. "The problem that we have with the current legislation is that we are very concerned that it will make health care more expensive, not more affordable."

Added the CEO, "We have offered very specific proposals [to ensure affordability,]" said Ignagni. "We believe that the legislation needs to be fixed in that area; that it still can be fixed."

Sebelius argued that attacking the Democrat's proposal is a "short-term strategy."

"You can continue the opposition to reform and if you do, and reform fails, I can give you a pretty good prediction of what happens next," Sebelius said. "By next March, premiums will take even a bigger bite out of American's wages, your market will shrink even further [and] more Americans will lose their employer-sponsored insurance."