The Enzi Bill: Less healthcare for your buck

Several states, namely Ohio and California have adopted the approach of Wyoming senator Michael Enzi, but he's decided to take it national, under the typically dishonest name of "Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act." It sounds like the GOP is doing something about healthcare, getting rid of archaic bureaucracy, and doing it all through market forces-- hooray! Who wouldn't love that? Most people, if they knew what it was about.

Like the state bills, it's being pushed as more flexible and a real cost-cutter. Which it is for insurance providers. Whether or not they pass the savings on to the consumer is up to them. And I have yet to hear any reports of declining premiums. You probably won't be surprised to learn that the proposed law's actual effect is to increase profit margins while cutting the services and protections provided to citizens. While that's typical of the current Republican party, it also denies states the right to set their own minimum standards of care. Yet 'small government' is one of the selling points of a party that's expanded government under their last three presidents.

Though the bill’s alleged purpose is to make insurance affordable for small businesses, its reach is far greater than that: States will no longer be able to mandate coverage of benefits, services, or categories of providers for individuals, small groups, or large groups. Premium rating protections, enacted by states to make small group insurance more affordable to older and sicker workers, will be set aside. Insurers will be allowed to sue states that do not comply. The bill sets a ceiling on, but no floor under, what states can do to protect insurance consumers.

The bill is set to hit the Senate floor next week. Might be a good time to see how your senators intend to vote.