S&P: Kerry Not So Bad For Health Insurers

Although Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, has criticized managed care companies, his platform does not include any calls to set up a government-run universal health care system, and his proposal to create a catastrophic health reinsurance program for employers would have little effect on health insurer profitability, the S&P analysts predict.

Any damage done by the catastrophic reinsurance program might be offset by opportunities to sell more health insurance through the Medicaid and Federal Employees Health Benefits programs, the S&P analysts write.