DeMint, Shadegg, Hastert Introduce Health Care Choice Act: Innovative plan lowers costs & gives consumers more control

Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) joined U.S. Congressman John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) and U.S. House Speaker Dennis J. Hastert (R-Ill.) at a press conference announcing the introduction of the "Health Care Choice Act." Senator DeMint is the lead Senate sponsor of the bill, which will empower consumers to use the Internet and other means to find affordable health insurance policies sold nationwide.

"Americans should have access to the health insurance that best meets their needs," said Senator DeMint. "Giving people more affordable choices in a nation-wide market will reduce the costs of insurance and lower the number of uninsured."

The Health Care Choice Act harnesses the power of the marketplace to allow Americans to compare policies from across the country and pick one that best meets their needs. It would provide every American with better health insurance choices. The legislation would also reduce the number of Americans who have been unable to find affordable health insurance coverage.

According to the Institute of Medicine, most adults who do not have health insurance cite the high cost as the reason. The Heath Care Choice Act will allow Americans to purchase an affordable health insurance policy with a range of options. Consumers will no longer be limited to picking only those policies that meet their state's regulations and mandated benefits. Instead, they can examine the wide array of insurance policies qualified in one state and offered for sale in multiple states.

"This bill brings us one step closer to a consumer-driven healthcare system that is geared for the future," said Senator DeMint. "Americans will be able to pick policies with the benefits they really need and won't be forced to pay for things they don't need."

Speaker Hastert said, "Because of excessive regulation, consumers are held hostage by expensive state mandates," said Speaker Hastert, "Let's gets rid of the red tape that's pricing millions of Americans out of the health insurance market."

Congressman Shadegg said, "Rather than going through 50 different regulatory processes, this bill will allow an insurance company to go through one process and sell to people in all 50 states. We can help people, not by setting up a massive new government bureaucracy, but by empowering individuals to make the best choice for themselves and their families."

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