Markell Gives Insurance Deal Lowmarks

Filed in National by on December 20, 2010

The impending “link” between Highmark and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware concerns Governor Jack Markell.

“This proposal could have significant upside but it may come with significant considerable risks as well. As details emerge about the proposal, they need to be examined carefully and openly as part of a thorough, thoughtful and transparent process. BlueCross is an important employer in Delaware and, just as importantly, the place where hundreds of thousands of Delawareans and their employers turn for their health insurance.”

Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart told the News Journal that potential job loses will not be part of her decision process.  Her decision on the “link” is due in June.

I am confident that Markell will be working this issue hard for the people of Delaware, but I’d like to see the conversation turn to whether or not we are getting to a point where health insurance companies might become to big to fail. Because to big to fail doesn’t have a good track record.

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Comments (4)

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  1. Anon says:

    Really? No comments? Over 300,000 health insurance policies potentially impacted by the Insurance Commissioner’s decision, and nobody rallies or says anything?

  2. Actually anon, Battle Robinson is having the hearings and will deliver her recommendations to the IC. She is starting in Jan. to solicit interveners etc. if you have the time and interest. The AG will do a concurrent investigation of the deal and Markell has weighed in with his preference for job retention even though that has nothing to do with the considerations before the IC.

    The question of outsourcing and job retention are appropriate concerns in the context of what DEDO can possibly do to keep jobs in Delaware. Markell has made a habit of trading huge outlays to entice jobs and retain them and this is perhaps not going to be any different.

  3. anon says:

    The single payer folks are still at it. As the States economy collapse and insurance premiums kick into high gear, many States will be forced to adopt the single payer system to make ends meet. Bold Progressives and other PNHP groups are contacting Governors about the impending doom, lets see if there will be 20 legislators ready to sign on (those that did the last time) to really fix the problem in Delaware.

  4. I am down with that, anon. Karen ran on single payer as part of her platform – will she support it now when we really need it?