Associated Press

“After battling President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul the better part of a year, the insurance industry said Monday it won’t try to block his efforts to fix a potentially embarrassing glitch in the new law. (Emphasis added)

“In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the industry’s top lobbyist said insurers will accept new regulations to dispel uncertainty over a much-publicized guarantee that children with medical problems can get coverage starting this year. (Emphasis added)

“Quick resolution of the doubts was a win for Obama — and a sign that the industry has no stomach for another war of words with a president who deftly used double-digit rate hikes by the companies to revive his sweeping health care legislation from near collapse in Congress.

“Health plans recognize the significant hardship that a family faces when they are unable to obtain coverage for a child with a pre-existing condition,” Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, said in a letter to Sebelius. Ignagni said that the industry will “fully comply” with the regulations, expected within weeks.” (Emphasis added)

Source: Associated Press, March 29, 2010, 9:45 p.m.