Thursday, October 15, 2009

Another take on anti-trust and health insurance

An interesting analysis of the recent discussion in Congress about removing a partial anti-trust exemption that has been in force in the U.S. since the 1940s. In short, Austin Frakt is arguing that large insurers with larger market shares are better able to negotiate down payment rates in a way that *could* reduce premiums. This would leave open a chance for a private insurance based system with universal coverage eventually driven through mandates to purchase and subsidies. He further notes that small insurers could be disproportionately hurt by ending anti-trust exemptions due to curbs in data sharing that are used to set rates/underwrite.

1 comment:

  1. yes the small insurers could be disproportionately hurt by ending anti-trust exemptions but i believe small insurers are in much need of money then large cover insurers

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