To Encourage Health Insurance Competition, End the Anti-Trust Exemption

Filed under: Politics

Economist Robert Reich, former U.S. Labor Secretary under President Clinton, is calling for the elimination of the health insurance industry's exemption from federal anti-trust laws, and his argument is compelling.



The anti-trust exemption dates back to when the health insurance sector was dominated by hospital non-profits, during which collaboration was constructive: it reduced costs per policy holder by spreading out the costs of expensive equipment over more policy holders. Today, under the mostly for-profit, private sector system of providers, it's just encouraged 'territoriality' -- i.e. the unwillingness of insurers to compete seriously in another insurer's region -- resulting in little competition, sole provider-dominated markets, and of course, massively higher premiums.

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To Encourage Health Insurance Competition, End the Anti-Trust Exemption originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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