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Insurance Group Bashes Baucus Bill With Report

White House betrayed by 'hatchet job' predicting cost hikes

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 12, 2009 7:38 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The White House is steamed this morning over a report, sponsored by the insurance industry, saying the Senate Finance Committee’s health care bill would cause premiums and costs to rise. The report was commissioned by America’s Health Insurance Plans, an industry group that has until now supported reform publicly, while fighting to kill certain ideas, like the public option, behind the scenes, Politico notes. It claims the bill would, by 2019, cost a family $4,000 more in premiums than projected.

AHIP told the White House and Finance Committees last week that they were “a ways away from doing an analysis,” according to one administration source. So “there is a feeling among White House officials that they were misled.” A Finance Committee spokesman called the report “a health insurance company hatchet job, plain and simple.” The report threatens to affect tomorrow’s committee vote on the bill.

Kent Conrad talks to Max Baucus during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on health care reform legislation, Oct. 1, 2009.
Kent Conrad talks to Max Baucus during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on health care reform legislation, Oct. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
In this Oct. 1, 2009 file photo, Max Baucus gestures while discussing health care reform.
In this Oct. 1, 2009 file photo, Max Baucus gestures while discussing health care reform.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg, FILE)
Erin Radford, of Washington, protests with other activists, nurses, and patients outside of the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Conference, Sept. 22, 2008.
Erin Radford, of Washington, protests with other activists, nurses, and patients outside of the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Conference, Sept. 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
Face-Of-RNC
Oct 12, 2009 10:14 AM CDT
Right, the corporations should not be demonized for screwing their customers day and night. They are only doing what their paid legislators have made it legal for them to do.
hybrid
Oct 12, 2009 8:03 AM CDT
false figure? that article never mentioned that it was a "false figure". You keep making insurance the demon here but in reality look in the mirror. Why is our health care more costly,hmmm what resturant is on every exit on every highway and what does every holiday have in common(over eating and sugar). Its a cultural problem not a system failure. Yes there should be some changes made and sure it would be nice to cover all americans and lets work out a way that it can be done without killing an industry. but come on really,,Canada!
JonmarkP
Oct 12, 2009 7:40 AM CDT
When the politicians realize we're going to be waving bye-bye to them if they don't play ball with the people for a change.

The report (PDF)
Politico

 
health care costs • health insurance • Senate Finance Committee • health care reform • Obama administration • America's Health Insurance Plans

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