Over 160 amendments were pre-filed last night to the TDI Sunset bill which is officially set on today’s House Calendar. Under house Rules, amendments to Sunset bills must be pre-filed the day before consideration so that they may be fully considered and analyzed by all sides in the debate.
The overwhelming majority were consumer friend amendments, with less than 10 seemingly directed at further protecting insurance company profits (this is a logical ratio since the current system is rigged for the insurance interests – they do not need much more help).
Pro-Consumer Amendment Highlights:
Standard Policy Forms, by Chairman John Smithee, would restore a market place mechanism to allow consumers to price shop on an “apples to apples” basis. This would allow the free market to work to bring prices down.
Prior Approval of Rates by Smithee, Farrar and another by Trey Martinez Fischer would make insurance companies justify their rates before being implemented. This is incredibly not the law today.
Elected Insurance Commissioner amendments by Abel Herrero and Mark Homer would make this important regulator accountable directly to the voters.
Reasonable Medical Expenses by Brian Hughes would ensure that responsible people who purchased health insurance were not disadvantaged in the legal system. Incredibly, this is the case under some court interpretations of current law.
Prompt Payment of Claims by Craig Eiland.
Restoration of the “Made Whole Doctrine” by Eiland would make sure that responsible people who purchased health insurance would receive the full benefit of that insurance if they are injured by another party.
Minimum Auto Limits by David Leibowitz would increase the minimum standard coverage amounts in auto policies to reflect the realistic cost of today’s automobiles and health care coverage.
Voters will get to see how their elected State Reps. vote on these and many other amendments. This will create a clear record of who is protecting insurance company profits and who is working in the interests of Texas’ hard working families.
