Insurance Industry Kills Bill That Would Have Forced them to Justify Hikes
by Brian Leubitz
Well, score another win for the insurance industry over consumers:
Feuer: “We’ve hit a temporary roadblock on the bill. The bill remains on the floor of the Senate, however, and I’m going to work very hard between now and next January to change this dynamic.”
Health insurance companies and business groups have fought the measure fiercely. The California Association of Health Plans says the bill would sharply increase costs to the state – without doing anything to lower the cost of health care. (Cap Public Radio)
Of course they say it would increase rates, because they can. Not because they have any data to show that is true. Not because rates in states that have similar measures are higher, but because they can.
However unfortunate, there are enough anti-consumer Democrats to kill the bill. Let’s be clear here, this is nothing about being moderate. This is about insurance industry contributions controlling several Democrats in Senate, to the detriment of their constituents.
The bill will be back in next year’s session, by then we can hope that these as yet unnamed legislative cowards can be convinced of the error of their ways. We need leaders who will stand up for California consumers, rather than just bending to the will of AHIP.
And they have primaries – we need better Democrats here, not just more.
Calderon, Negrete-McCleod, and Rubio come to mind.
Do we know their position on the bill?
I’d love to know which Dem Senators were on the fence about this bill. I hope Commissioner Jones or Asm. Feuer can supply such a list next year.
But let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are on the offensive on this issue. We just have to make those representatives fear their constituents more than the InsurCo’s PAC money.
health insurance companies are doing good efforts.this bill is good.i really like this article.you discus a good topic.i like to read informative blogs and this blog is also so good and helpful.thanks for taking time to discus this topic..
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