The health law's '3 Rs' for insurers: A bailout or necessary safeguards?

Three provisions in the health law that proponents say are designed to help insurers manage the financial risk of taking all comers while keeping premiums affordable are under fire on Capitol Hill, with Republicans labeling them as giveaways to the health insurance industry. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has said that Republicans may push to repeal the provisions as part of negotiations over raising the debt ceiling. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Rep. Tim Griffin of Arkansas, both Republicans, are sponsoring legislation to repeal the health law's risk corridors. Proponents say the money that insurers contribute to the program will finance most of its cost.