March 31st, 2010
01:42 AM ET

Insurers agree to comply with intent of new health care law

President Barack Obama won a key concession from the health insurance industry Tuesday as the main lobby group said providers would comply with new regulations that will prevent the denial of coverage for children due to pre-existing conditions.

In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the president of America's Health Insurance Plans - Karen Ignagni - said the nation's insurance companies would not try to find loopholes in the new health care law.


Sebelius had sent a letter to Ignagni on Monday warning against any efforts by health insurers to avoid the new law's intent to halt the industry practice of denying coverage for children with pre-existing conditions.

In response, Ignagni's letter said the industry would fully comply with regulations being drafted by Sebelius to implement the new law.

The provision involving coverage for kids takes effect on September 23, six months after Obama signed the bill into law, Sebelius said.

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Filed under: Barack Obama • Health • Politics • U.S.
soundoff (3 Responses)
  1. Joshua

    I'll believe it when I see it, but looks like a step in the right direction. Children should have the same access health care as they have access to school. N o matter what we may think about adults getting help obtaining health care (or even being required to buy it), I hope we all agree that sick and injured kids are exempt from our politics. Let's bite the bullets and get EVERY child the health care they need (and deserve).

    March 31, 2010 at 2:18 am | Report abuse |
  2. Sherry

    What about adults. Will they have law for them about pre-existing conditions? This law should be for everyone.

    March 31, 2010 at 3:17 am | Report abuse |
  3. Quenby Wilcox

    They will not try to find loopholes in the system? This I gotta see this!!!!

    But, seriously if we wish to find a real solution to health care (in the US, Europe or even developing countries) we had better stop producing so many cronically ill people. That is where your solution lies. That and taming the greedy, mis-managed, bureaucratic medical industry (particularly the pharmaceutical one) and while you are at it teach them some ethics.

    I guess here lies the crux of the problem. The medical industry (and FDA) need for their markets to expand in order to assure a continual growth of demand for physical and mental health care products.

    Look for how many decades the FDA and the medical community claimed that Adelle Davis and her work was little more than sorcery. At least until they realized that a huge profit could be made off of the vitamin industry!!!! In Europe they still haven't figured it out!!!!!

    But, these are just symptoms of a much bigger problem. For 30 years I have listened to the Europeans tell me "All American's care about is making a buck." My response "Excuse me what society on this planet does not live by that standard?"

    Until we can bring a bit of Humanity into our societies and lives, then our "cyclones" will just bigger and bigger, with no end.

    March 31, 2010 at 6:06 pm | Report abuse |
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