Sebelius: Insurer's opposition to health measure works against them

The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spoke earlier today at the America's Health Insurance Plans' national policy forum in Washington, D.C. and "warned health insurers Wednesday that opposing President Obama's health-care agenda and letting premium hikes continue would eventually hurt the health-care industry. ... Sebelius cautioned in stark terms that, if insurers opposed Democrats' health-care legislation, premiums hikes would continue and more small businesses would drop health coverage for their employees" (Yoest, 3/10).

CBS Political Hotsheet: Sebelius delivered the "toughest message to date" to the insurers, "demanding they give Americans a break on the cost of health care coverage. She wants them to take the millions of dollars they have set aside for ads against health care reform legislation 'and use them to start giving Americans some relief from their skyrocketing premiums'" (Knoller, 3/10).

Reuters: "Sebelius called for more transparency in premium pricing and to work with the administration to pass comprehensive healthcare reform. She told the group that Obama's plan was not 'radically' different than proposals suggested by the industry group" (Smith, 3/10).

Washington Times: She told the insurance industry audience that failure to support President Obama's health overhaul would lead to their business's ultimate demise. "'We are in a situation where the market is unsustainable.' ... 'You can choose to continue your opposition to reform. If you do and reform goes down in defeat, we know what will happen'" (Weber, 3/10).

Politico: "'The head of the insurance lobby made clear later that she's heard enough industry-bashing out of the White House. There has been a relentless attack on the men and women who work in our industry,' said Karen Ignagni, head of America's Health Insurance Plans. 'But the politics as usual in Washington won't address the underlying affordability issues, so we have to move beyond the politics of vilification and get to the process of problem solving.'" Sebelius, who received only brief applause after her speech to the group, told them "she did not show up to 'vilify' insurers and even said, 'It's not too late to work on this issue together.'" Ignagni reiterated the industry's concerns, describing them as "very simple and straightforward: We have been concerned that the legislation will make the system more expensive, not more affordable" (Brown, 3/10).