Health Insurance Antitrust Exemption Might End

As it stands, the health insurance industry is one of the few that is exempt from federal antitrust regulation. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy called a meeting of the Judiciary Committee to consider revoking the exemption, which would allow for greater oversight of health insurers. Democrats have criticized insurers for being a monopoly that keep rates high and cherry-picks the healthiest potential clients while leaving those who need it most uninsured. This view has been one of the main drivers of political support for the public option, which would allow the government to directly compete with private companies by selling its own health insurance.

However, a representative from America’s Health Insurance Plans, which represents the health care industry, told the Associated Press that healthcare reform doesn’t need to go that far. Despite being exempt from antitrust laws, it’s still one of the most highly regulated industries in the U.S. Some believe that insurance companies have become a scapegoat in the health debate. There are many reasons for skyrocketing medical costs, and for-profit insurers are only one.