Bill may undercut Mass. health effort

The Boston Globe reports:

A healthcare bill being debated in Congress this week could undercut the new universal health insurance law in Massachusetts, by freeing insurers to brush aside state-required benefits and to charge older and sicker residents far higher premiums.

The Republican-backed measure, which is the centerpiece of the GOP's ''Health Week" agenda in the Senate, aims to reduce the number of uninsured residents by helping small businesses join together to purchase less expensive insurance for their employees.

Lower costs would be generated by releasing insurance companies from state requirements to cover an expanded array of treatments and screenings. The bill would also permit insurers to boost premiums for groups of workers who are considered greater health risks.

To social Democrats like Ted Kennedy:one size should have to fit all.Ted Kennedy is against choices in health care insurance.That's socialism for you.