The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3962, the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” in a vote of 220-215. H.R. 3962 contains a provision that repeals the antitrust exemption in the McCarran-Ferguson Act for health insurers only. The provision excludes property and casualty insurers from the repeal of McCarran-Ferguson.
The outcome of the Affordable Health Care for America Act is uncertain, according to the Automotive Service Association. The Senate has not scheduled floor consideration yet. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is expected to introduce similar language to the health care bill on the Senate floor, via amendment.
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) supports a repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act, including those antitrust protections for property and casualty insurers. A full repeal is proposed in H.R. 1583, which was introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and is co-sponsored by Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., and would impact the insurance industry as a whole, including property and casualty insurers.
To view the text of H.R. 3962 and the repeal of specific McCarran-Ferguson Act provisions, visit ASA’s legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.
