Guarded optimism among insurers, but some sectors skeptical on Baucus bill

While health insurers were careful to publicly praise Senator Max Baucus' healthcare proposal as offering something that might have bipartisan appeal, they were also quick to raise concerns about new nonprofit insurance co-operatives. Insurers also voiced objections, shared by some other segments of the healthcare industry, about the proposal's call for new fees or taxes that companies would have to pay to help finance the healthcare overhaul. The American Hospital Association, which said its members were still reviewing the plan, praised Baucus' efforts to expand insurance coverage to more people.