The insurance industry gained the exemption in 1945; in most parts of the country, a single insurer has monopolistic dominance and the ability to set prices.

See also.

I love watching the ridiculous charades happening in Washington around healthcare “reform.” It blows my mind to think that it’s 2009 and a whole circus thinks that it’s a good idea to mandate that every individual purchase insurance from an industry that’s exempt from being called a monopoly.

These are our leaders folks.

Pelosi Joins Attack On Insurance Industry’s Anti-Trust Exemption