4M People Impacted if Blue Cross Blue Shield is Voted On - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader

The Michigan Senate could vote Wednesday on a plan to re-vamp Michigan Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a move that would impact some four million customers.

To understand the importance of this issue, the room was jam packed with lobbyists, special interest groups and state lawmakers who appear to be moving quickly to implement a change the governor outlined just last month.

The governor wants to reinvent the Blues, turning it into a not for profit mutual insurance company. Blues officials think the governor is right when he argues, this will introduce more competition into the health care system.

Others in the audience are concerned about the shift, which could give the Blues even more leverage in the market place.

The Senate GOP leader wants a vote this week. Last month, the GOP chair of the Senate Insurance Panel said this was not on a fast track, now it appears to be.

The House has held one hearing on this issue, and even if the Senate approves it on Wednesday, House action will likely wait until after the November election.