Tester Prods Burns, Dole to Oppose Health Insurance Bill That Would Cut Health Benefits to Montanans, Americans
Measure would Help Big Insurance Companies, Hurt Consumers
U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester today prodded Senator Conrad Burns and Senator Elizabeth Dole, stumping for Burns in Montana, to oppose a Burns bill that would dramatically cut state regulation of health insurance and strip Montanans of health care benefits.
“Senator Burns’ bill will strip Montanans who are insured of health benefits that they need and use to keep their families healthy,” Tester said. “Once again Senator Burns is turning his back on Montana families and standing up for the big insurance industry. Burns should stand up for quality, affordable health care for all Montanans and Americans.”
Burns is a cosponsor of S. 1955, which would limit states’ rights to regulate the health insurance industry, set rates, and establish minimum benefits—such as maternity care, mammographies, and well-child care—for health insurance consumers.
States traditionally have regulated the health insurance industry, noted Tester, who in the 2005 Montana Legislature helped pass legislation to create incentives for small business to provide health insurance for their employees.
“This is an end-run around states to allow the health insurance industry to cut basic health benefits to consumers,” Tester said. “That’s plain wrong, and Senator Burns should stop his bill now. Senator Burns and Senator Dole should stop this back-door attempt to cut health benefits to Montana and American families.”
“I hope the former president of the American Red Cross would oppose legislation that will cut health care benefits for Montanans and Americans,” Tester added.
Senator Burns is one of three cosponsors of the bill, which could be voted on by the full Senate the first week of May. Senator Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) is chief sponsor of the bill.
Opponents of the bill include such national groups as AARP and Families USA. Families USA notes Burns’ bill would:
Strip away mandated benefits that state legislatures have worked hard to pass over past decades.
Hinder access to health care providers that state legislatures have deemed necessary in their respective states.
Undermine valuable rating rules that prevent insurers from discriminating based on health status, age, gender, and other criteria that prevent health care costs from skyrocketing for many Americans.
Negatively affect the health care of 85 million Americans.
For more information about the bill from Families USA, go to http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/private-insurance/enzi/
Posted on Thursday, April 13th, 2006 at 10:32 am.
