Health Insurers Bulk Up 1Q Spending On Lobbying

TOM MURPHY

Big health insurers have punched up lobbying spending this year as the debate over a potential overhaul of the nation's health care system heats up in Washington.

The five largest private insurers and the trade group America's Health Insurance Plans spent a total of $6.4 million in the first quarter, an increase of more than $1 million from the same quarter last year. The industry is working to counter proposals endorsed by the White House that would offer a government insurance option for millions of Americans.

Individually, Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group Inc. spent $1.5 million in the first quarter, up 34 percent from $1.1 million in the same quarter last year. Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna Inc. spent $809,793, up 41 percent from last year.

Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc. and Louisville, Ky.-based Humana Inc. both saw first-quarter spending rise 16 percent to $1.2 million and $370,000, respectively. Spending for Philadelphia-based Cigna Corp. nearly doubled to $450,000 in the first quarter from a year ago.

Insurers lobbied on an array of issues in the first quarter amid a heavy legislative agenda. Those included the expansion of a health insurance program for children and subsidies that help people retain their employer-based health insurance if they lose a job.