Reject Unregulated Predatory Health Coverage Plans

I urge you to oppose SB79 (Gregory) and HB 366 (Pollitt), dangerous proposals that threaten the health and financial security of Missourians by creating an unregulated, two-tiered system for health care coverage. These bills carve out a loophole allowing organizations like the Farm Bureau to peddle health care contracts exempt from critical insurance laws—effectively gambling with patients’ lives and livelihoods. These bills strip away safeguards that ensure transparency, solvency, and accountability in health coverage. By labeling these plans as “not insurance,” the bills shield them from state oversight, permitting denials of care, exorbitant out-of-pocket costs, and discriminatory practices against those with pre-existing conditions. The stark disclaimer—“This contract is not health insurance”—is a warning sign, not a reassurance. It tells consumers, “You are on your own,” abandoning them without recourse if claims are denied or the organization collapses. Missouri’s insurance regulations exist for a reason: to protect families from predatory practices and financial ruin. These bills undermine decades of progress, allowing unregulated entities to bypass mandates for emergency care, mental health parity, and appeals processes. Worse, they risk destabilizing our insurance market by siphoning healthy individuals into subpar plans, driving up costs for those remaining in regulated coverage. Proponents claim this expands “choice,” but there is no choice in a system that prioritizes profit over people. Rural communities, already underserved, will be particularly vulnerable to exploitation. How many families must face bankruptcy due to uncovered treatments? How many lives will be lost when care is delayed or denied? Do not be misled: these bills are not innovation, they are regression. They empower corporations to evade responsibility while leaving Missourians to bear the consequences. I urge you to reject this reckless legislation. Uphold your duty to protect consumers, defend equitable access to care, and ensure all health coverage meets basic standards of accountability. The health of our state depends on it.