Jackson, MS—Attorney General Jim Hood today announced that he is joining at
least 41 other Attorneys General in asking the United States Senate to oppose legislation
being presented to them for consideration. The “Health Insurance Markteplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006”, S. 1955, would change the health insurance marketplace by creating association heath plans called “Small Business Health Plans”. The bill also would affect all types of health insurance by:
1. preempting the ability of states to regulate the health insurance industry;
2. allowing health insurance carriers to offer health plans that do no include state
mandated benefits; and
3. creating a federal board to issue standards on a variety of insurance issues including
the internal grievance appeals process available to consumers.
The bill preempts any and all state laws in these areas and creates a federal cause of action for health insurance carriers against the states.
?The insurance companies are at it again, this time trying to use their lobbying influence to get out from under regulations,? said General Hood. ?It?s time for some serious reform and we?re going to begin by asking the U.S. Senate to kill this bill.?