Prepared Statement of The Honorable Joe Barton

H.R. 2355, the Health Care Choice Act

Subcommittee on Health
June 28, 2005

Thank you Chairman Deal for holding this important hearing on legislation to make health insurance more affordable.

Last year, roughly 45 million Americans lacked health insurance, at least for part of the year. Millions went without because there was no policy they could afford. The problem of the uninsured isn't new. Each year when the Census Bureau announces its health insurance statistics, activists stampede to demand that the government take over and run the health care system. "See," they say, "the market really doesn't work." Their view is, if only everybody could have something like Medicaid, America would be happier and healthier.

They're dead wrong. America's health care system doesn't have a market problem, it has a problem of too much government. Both the system and the uninsured are afflicted by the consequences of years of government meddling - too many regulations, too many subsidies, too many mandates and too many policies that were supposed to "improve" health insurance. These efforts have combined to distort the market and make it very difficult for working Americans to purchase reasonably priced health insurance

Just look at what happens when you compare the average monthly premiums in different states. One report shows that in my home state of Texas, the average premium for a single policy was $133 a month. In New Jersey, that policy cost $340 a month. The difference is $2,484 a year. Now, some people can reach into their pockets and find an extra $2,484, but not many working people can do that, and they are the ones who most often resolve the problem by deciding that groceries and rent are more important than an insurance policy. So they buy their groceries and pay the rent and pray they won't get sick or hurt. H.R. 2355, the Health Care Choice Act, addresses these problems by allowing people to buy health insurance across State lines. Allowing people to purchase a health insurance policy they can afford could go a long way toward reducing the number of uninsured. It's a little less government and a little more freedom, and it could make a big difference.

I look forward to hearing from today's witnesses on this important proposal. It is my hope that this hearing will allow us to examine this legislation and assess its impact on consumers, state insurance markets and ultimately the cost of health insurance.

Thank you again, Chairman Deal for holding today's hearing, and I yield back my time.

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