Sen. Alexander Announces Haslam, McPeak Will Testify at U.S. Senate Hearings on Stabilizing Premiums in Individual Insurance Market

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The office of Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., issued the following news release:

Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced that Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee's state insurance commissioner, Julie Mix McPeak, will serve as witnesses at bipartisan U.S. Senate health committee hearings the first week of September on steps Congress can take so that 350,000 Tennesseans will be able to buy insurance at more affordable prices in 2018.

"There are 350,000 Tennesseans - songwriters, farmers, and the self-employed - who do not get their health insurance from the government or on the job, which means they must buy insurance in the individual market. My goal by the end of September is to give them peace of mind that they will be able to buy insurance at a more reasonable price for the year 2018. We're fortunate that Governor Haslam and Commissioner McPeak are willing to provide senators with their insight and expertise as we work to help ensure that the 18 million Americans in the individual insurance market will be able to buy insurance at more affordable prices in 2018," Alexander said.

U.S. Senate health committee hearing dates below:

Wednesday, September 6th --Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: State Insurance Commissioners

Thursday, September 7th - Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: Governors

Alexander and the committee's Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) announced at a Senate health committee hearing on Aug. 1 they would hold a series of hearings to help Americans in the individual market.