Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

A lawintroduced by a Nevada senator at the end of World War II may yet be abolished with the support of another senator from this state 65 years later.

NV Senator Harry Reid said Democratic leaders plan to repeal a law that exempts health insurance companies from federal anti-trust legislation.

The move is another attempt at introducing changes in the country’s healthcare system after the sweeping reform bill passed in Senate last December remains stalled in Congress, he noted.

"This is one of the things we’re going to do for sure," Reid told a forum at Nora’s Filipino Fast Food in Las Vegas last Saturday, Feb. 6. "If we cannot get it all done, we will get some done," he noted.

The Democrat senator said only two types of businesses in the USare exempt from anti-trust laws. These are major league baseball and insurance companies.

"Insurance companies should not be included. We’re going to take away that exemption they have," he told the forum that was organized by Asian Americans for Harry Reid.

For sixty five years, insurance firms have been exempt from federal regulation, including anti-trust laws after Congress passed the McCarran-Ferguson Act in 1945. NV Senator Pat McCarran sponsored the bill with MI Senator Homer Ferguson.

This law gives all states the authority to regulate the business of insurance without interference from federal regulation.

Since health insurers are not subject to the antitrust laws, these firms have the freedom to determine the prices that they charge for health insurance. Firms can also reject coverage to people based on age or with existing medical conditions.

As a result, a large number of Americans remains uninsured, health reform advocates claim.

VT Senator Patrick Leahy recently introduced the Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act, which removes the exemption or immunity health insurance firms enjoy.

Reid, who is senate majority leader, has control over the Senate’s legislative calendar. He said the bill that would remove insurance firms’ exemption from anti-trust laws will be one of the top priorities.