Eliminate Anti-Trust Exemption for Health Insurers? Good Luck, Congressman!

In his recent article on The Hill's Congress Blog, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) suggested something I've advocated for years: Eliminate the anti-trust exemption that health insurance companies have used for years to build their near monopolies across the U.S. Their cartel-like control over the access to and financing of health care in this country would never have occurred if these profit-bloated managed care companies had been subject to the same anti-trust rules that apply to other industries.

So now, while the healthcare reform debate continues to be orchestrated according to the whims of the mighty insurance lobby in Washington, it's almost inconceivable to think that Big Insurance will sit still amidst any rumblings of anti-trust proponents. The insurance lobby has already demonstrated it can get exactly what it wants (or prevent what it doesn't want) from Congress, without having to pull out any of the stops. They've done it almost casually. Imagine the fight they could mount (over anti-trust) if they really put their minds and resources to it.

While I support Rep. Grijalva's sentiment with regard to removing the anti-trust exemption, and I wish him luck with his efforts, the odds of it succeeding fall somewhere between slim and none.