Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009

Bill 111 HR 3596, also known as the Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, was introduced in the 111th Congress on September 15, 2009 by Representative Tom Perriello. The purpose of this bill was to amend the McCarran-Ferguson Act to ensure that health insurance companies are subject to federal antitrust laws.

The McCarran-Ferguson Act, passed in 1945, exempted the business of insurance from federal antitrust regulation and left regulation up to the states. This bill sought to remove this exemption for health insurance companies, allowing the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to enforce antitrust laws against them.

The bill aimed to increase competition in the health insurance industry, which proponents argued would lead to lower prices and better coverage for consumers. By subjecting health insurance companies to federal antitrust laws, the bill sought to prevent anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing and market allocation. The Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009 was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, but did not make it out of committee and did not become law. However, similar legislation has been introduced in subsequent Congresses in an effort to address concerns about competition in the health insurance industry.