Congresswoman Angie Craig Authors Bill to Help States Reduce Health Care Premiums

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Rep. Angela Craig, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release:

* * *

- "State Health Care Premium Reduction Act" Aims to Lower Health Insurance Premiums in the Individual Market

* * *

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig's (MN-02) first healthcare piece of legislation - the State Health Care Premium Reduction Act - would address an immediate concern facing hardworking Minnesota families right now: the affordability of health insurance.

Rep. Craig's bill, which she introduced today, gets at the heart of the problem by recognizing that if healthcare isn't affordable it isn't accessible. This Act will lower health insurance premium costs for people in the individual market place by an estimated 10%. While this bill takes major steps toward making quality healthcare more accessible, it is only part of the solution. That's why Craig remains committed to not only addressing the cost of health insurance but also the cost of healthcare, which includes lowering the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs.

"In my conversations with hardworking families in the Second District, healthcare is the number one issue that comes up, and too many families are paying too much for their health insurance or have been priced out of the market," said Rep. Craig. "That's why I'm taking this major step to reduce the burden of health insurance premiums, and why I remain committed to finding additional ways to increase quality healthcare to more Americans."

Rep. Craig's bill is a federal commitment with local control for states to run their own programs to reduce insurance premiums for people using the individual market place. However, the bill contains a provision that ensures residents in states who do not proactively submit reinsurance plans would see the same lowered premiums.