On the recordMarch 16, 2010
The truth is America's health insurance companies are playing under the rules we set, and the rules we set say they really don't have to compete for my individual business, for John Shadegg as an individual customer, or yours, or our colleague from Texas because the Tax Code says we cannot buy health insurance like our employers can. We can't buy it tax-free, but our employers can. The reason they don't compete like that is because the government sets the rules. And the rules say that they sell pretty much exclusively to big companies, and we say to the poor working stiff who can't get employer-based health care, too bad, pal. You kind of don't count in the system. The insurance companies don't really want their business, they don't market to you, and if you buy their product, you have to buy it with after-tax dollars. Tragically not fixed in this bill.
