Lance: Purchasing Health Care Coverage Across State Lines Will Drive Down Costs, Reduce the Uninsured

Statement

Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) participated in a congressional hearing this morning examining the benefits of allowing families and businesses to purchase health insurance across state lines.

As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, Lance and other lawmakers will use the hearing's findings to craft a key health care reform that could dramatically reduce the number of the uninsured and drive down health care costs.

During the Health Subcommittee hearing, Lance issued the following statement:

"Many experts agree that the high cost of health care is a key contributing factor to the high number of uninsured Americans. A survey done by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that 85 percent of uninsured workers reported that they did not have coverage because it was either, "too expensive or they could not afford it.'

"The cost of health care is rising rapidly. It is imperative that Congress enact innovative solutions to make health insurance coverage more affordable for individuals and small businesses alike. Allowing the purchase of health care coverage across state lines will increase competition and choice, drive down prices and could dramatically reduce the number of uninsured."

Allowing insurance to be sold across state lines is an important component of Congressman Lance's efforts to repeal the 2010 health care law and replace it with common-sense fiscally responsible reforms that will lower health care costs, expand access, and protect jobs.

Other reforms supported by Lance include establishing high-risk insurance pools, implementing medical malpractice reforms and prohibiting insurance companies from discriminating on the basis of pre-existing conditions.

Source