The insurance industry calls the measure meaningless and, indeed, the Congressional Budget Office said repeal of the exemption “would have no significant effects” on health insurance premiums.
But proponents argue that without federal enforcement, state insurance departments have allowed health plans to consolidate, dominate many markets and drive up premiums.
The Speaker reported that no state has brought any antitrust action against health insurers in the past five years and insurers have used the antitrust exemption to block court actions regarding anti-competitive behavior.
Read House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s release on insurers’ antitrust exemption.
