Talent Slams "Sweepstakes" Plan To Derail Association Health Plan Idea

Senator Jim Talent has taken to the floor of the U.S. Senate to criticize what he claims is an effort by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to undermine efforts to create Association Health Plans, which would allow small businesses to pool their employees to improve health insurance prices. Talent says Blue Cross Blue Shield is offering cash and prizes to people who complain about health care proposals, such as Association Health Plans. To enter the contest to win an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., one only has to send an e-mail to his or her Congressman to complain about any potential changes to health care coverage. Talent points out this campaign has been given a snappy, populist-sounding name: “The America Speaks Sweepstakes.” During his time in the U.S. House, Talent successfully pushed through the Association Health Plans idea, but the proposal died in the Senate each time. It has now passed the House and is one of several ideas being debated in the Senate.