Good intention doesn't craft good insurance

Group health insurance through a job is the way most working Americans can afford coverage. But high costs strain small businesses, or preclude any employee benefits at all. It makes sense to create purchasing pools so workplaces can combine buying power for better rates on medical protection.

That's the theory in Congress to help 41 million Americans uninsured even though many work -- about 72,000 of them Delawareans. Good intentions don't bless complicated legislation, though, which the U.S. Senate is to pick up next week.

The Senate Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act's weakness is it would let trade associations or chambers of commerce offer small business health plans that ignore state mandates for particular kinds of benefits -- such as cancer screenings or mental health treatment.

Eligible insurers offering bare-bones coverage could also sue state officials in federal courts if they don't comply with what would be superceding law.

And the bill would set up an insurance standards board to "harmonize" or erase state differences in filing,

For all these reasons, Delaware Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn and Attorney General Carl Danberg are among 13 state commissioners and 41 attorneys general opposing this bill. So are a formidable number of health organizations across the country, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and American Psychiatric Association. Planned Parenthood of Delaware, which offers women's health care, and the Delaware Psychological Association are among them.

Full Story

Sign Up to Become a Diabetes Advocate!

Tags: senate bill 1955 enzi health insurance himmaa himma