Hello ARAWC Membership,
ARAWC’s Governmental Affairs team, led in Texas by Ryan Brannan, has been hard at work monitoring Texas House Bill 3752, which in its current form is an untargeted, sweetheart deal for Texas Mutual Insurance Company (TMIC) that will be bad for Texas employers of all sizes and every day working citizens. HB 3752 would allow TMIC to offer a health insurance product for individuals and small businesses across the entire state.
Friday May 14th we were advised that the Senate Business & Commerce Committee was asking for a full study of HB 3752 which would be a victory to our opposition of this bill. Because of late efforts by Representative James Frank, author of this bill changes were proposed to Chairman Hancock in exchange for not conducting a full study. Based on the information we have now ARAWC is opposed to these changes. This bill will be discussed during the Texas Senate Business & Commerce Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 8:00 AM.
ARAWC’s leadership team has diligently worked to propose an amendment to the bill to address these concerns and to try to limit, as much as possible, the negative impact this could have on Texas employers and employees. You may view the draft amendment here: Draft Amendment to HB 3752.
Call to Action:
It is important that all of us voice our opposition and concerns with HB 3752 to protect our members, their employees, and their QCARE/injury benefit plans in the state of Texas by immediately contacting the office of Senator Kelly Hancock, Chairman of the Business & Commerce Committee:
The Honorable Kelly Hancock
Phone: (512) 463-0109
Please convey to Chairman Hancock that the last-minute changes to this bill are being done in haste with unknown and potentially significant negative ramifications to multiple insurance markets and only an independent study should be conducted.
And you oppose and are concerned about this bill because of the following:
- Not Limited to Rural Markets
- No Product Limitations or Requirements
- Not Limited to Small Employers
- Promotes Less Objectivity and Transparency
- Promotes Monopolistic Control Over Texas Insurance Markets
- No TMIC Liability for its Products or Operations
- Premise Not Established
Rest assured, ARAWC is working hard to protect its members, their employees, and their QCARE/injury benefit plans in the state of Texas. Thanks for your continued support of ARAWC!
