health insurance companies

First Time Greater Than $400 Deductable for Employer Health Insurance

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For the first time the majority of workers who have employer provided health care will have to pay $400 deductibles are greater. Associated Press:

For the first time, most of the American workforce is expected to have health insurance deductibles of $400 or more, the consulting firm said in a report released to The Associated Press.

House lets anti-trust apply to health insurance companies

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No doubt this will die in the Senate but the House overwhelming passed a bill to expose health insurance companies to anti-trust laws:

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to take a 65-year-old antitrust exemption away from health insurance companies, leaning hard on an industry that has been the focus of criticism for fast-rising rates.

The chamber voted 406 to 19 to effectively repeal an antitrust exemption that has meant that states take the lead in enforcing antitrust law for health insurers. Consumer groups say states often lack the resources to effectively regulate insurers.

"Just recently 80,000 Iowans were told that their insurance rates would go up 18 percent," said Rep. Leonard Boswell in debate before the vote. "Iowans in the 3rd district are struggling to make ends meet."