Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) Wednesday announced the Senate health committee will hear Sept. 7 from governors representing the states of Massachusetts, Montana, Tennessee, Utah and Colorado. They are Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Governor Steve Bullock of Montana, Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee, Governor Gary Herbert of Utah and Governor John W. Hickenlooper of Colorado.
The hearing on Thursday, Sept. 7, “Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: Governors,” will take place in Dirksen 430 at 9 a.m.
Senator Alexander said Governor 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," said Senator Alexander. "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."
U.S. Senate health committee hearing dates below:
Wednesday, Sept. 6 - Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: State Insurance Commissioners
Thursday, Sept. 7 - Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: Governors
Senators Alexander and Murray announced earlier this month that the committee would hold hearings on stabilizing premiums in the individual insurance market so that the 18 million Americans in the individual market will be able to buy insurance at affordable prices in the year 2018.