SF 391, as written, sets up a Health Care Exchange that has little transparency, a clear conflict of interest and is bad for consumers.  Insurance agents would make a 5% commission off of the premiums they sell, which encourages them to sell policies with higher premiums. This is like a 5 percent tax on consumers!  It is bad public policy and not in the best interest of the 500,000-plus Iowans who will get their health insurance through the Exchange.  

There is a major amendment to SF 391 that would correct many of its problems and make it more consumer friendly including doing things like creating a strong Iowa Exchange with a governing board with two consumer reps on it, outlining how Iowans who will access coverage through Medicaid, hawk-i, or the subsidies available for those with higher incomes. We need to you to contact your Senator this weekend to tell them to support amending this bill.  We need a bill with strong consumer protections that puts the needs of Iowans first. (Our friends at the American Cancer Society have made this really easy - just click on the "contact" information and you can send an email directly to your Senator.) 

The insurance agents and brokers will be out in full force this weekend trying to keep the bill as is. We need to make it clear that it's not only the insurance agents that care about the Exchange. Please email your Senator or attend your local legislative forum and let them know that this bill can do better!