Washington, D.C. – (December 22, 2020) – Matt Eyles, president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) issued this statement following the amendment of the McCarran-Ferguson Act to eliminate the exemption for the business of health insurance from federal antitrust and competition laws:
“Every American deserves access to affordable coverage that provides them with access to high-quality health care. Sadly, eliminating the McCarran-Ferguson Act’s exemption for the business of health insurance will undermine that goal – adding administrative red tape and reducing market competition while making health coverage less affordable for hardworking Americans.
“The McCarran-Ferguson Act recognized that all health care is local, and that states should be able to govern their own health insurance markets. At no time has that been more evident than during the COVID-19 crisis. States have always exercised great authority in ensuring fair and competitive markets that delivered consumer choice.
“Removal of this exemption adds tremendous administrative costs while delivering absolutely no value for patients and consumers. It will unnecessarily add layers of bureaucracy, destabilize markets, create conflicting federal and state oversight requirements, and lead to costly litigation.
“We agree with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on the harms of repealing McCarran-Ferguson, and with countless experts that the best way to make insurance premiums more affordable is to address the underlying cost of care. Removal of the McCarran-Ferguson exemptions ignores those cost drivers while raising costs and will only result in coverage being less affordable.”
About AHIP
AHIP is the national association whose members provide coverage for health care and related services to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. Through these offerings, we improve and protect the health and financial security of consumers, families, businesses, communities and the nation. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that improve affordability, value, access, and well-being for consumers. Visit www.ahip.org for more information.