CAHI Sticks Up For Medical Underwriting

The Council for Affordable Health Insurance says it disagrees with other insurance groups’ willingness to accept more government involvement in the health care system.

America’s Health Insurance Plans, Washington, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Chicago, said Thursday that they would accept a requirement that they offer coverage to applicants with serious health problems if the government would set up a risk-adjustment mechanism for insurers and require all individuals to own health coverage.

AHIP and the Blues say that approach would expand access to coverage while helping them cope with the risk of increased claims costs.

CAHI, Alexandria, Va., a group that promotes free-market approaches to improving the U.S. health care system, says it thinks the AHIP/Blues approach would end up hurting consumers.