H.R. 371, The Health Care Choice Act received its first hearing before the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health in May, 2011. The bill would allow Americans to purchase health care insurance across state lines. This empowers consumers, promotes competition, and reduces cost. The measure is an important component in the House Republican pledge to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with patient-centered policies that actually reduce the cost of health care.
There are 2,156 care mandates which can increase the price of insurance products from 10% to 50%. The Health Care Choice Act would allow customers to purchase insurance products from any state. While the bill frees people from expensive state mandates, it includes rigorous protections to guarantee the solvency of insurance companies. Primary state laws regarding taxes, fraud, unfair claims settlements, and other consumer protections would still apply without regard to where an insurance product originates.
Congressman Blackburn has long advocated for across-state-line purchase as a means to reduce the cost of care. Last year at the Blair House summit on health care reform, Mrs. Blackburn raised the issue with President Obama. While the President asserted that expanding the number of companies operating under a state's mandate regime would not reduce costs, Congressman Blackburn reminded him this proposal is about "letting the people out."
Blackburn introduces the Health Care Choice Act to the Energy and Commerce Committee
The experts agree The Health Care Choice Act would be an important step forward in reducing the cost of health care in America. Dr. Paul Howard, Senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute testified in support of the bill. You can read his testimony here.
The concept that if Americans were able to purchase insurance products from any state, health care costs would come down is not new- but many choose not to understand it. Watch Congressman Blackburn debate the issue with President Obama during a health care summit at the Blair House in 2010:
Congressman Blackburn has also championed the issue on Face The Nation
