Two health insurance companies today agreed to offer lower, revamped rates following last week’s decision by the state’s Commissioner of Insurance to reject hundreds of excessive proposed increases. At a related court hearing, six insurance companies argued that they be allowed to immediately begin charging double-digit health insurance rate increases to struggling small businesses and families. Suffolk Superior Court Justice Stephen E. Neel adjourned this afternoon without ruling on the Commissioner’s right to deny excessive rate increases.

• The Patrick-Murray Administration’s cap helps small business owners who are struggling to choose between paying the health insurance companies and hiring new workers.  Small businesses are the engine of the Massachusetts economy, and Governor Patrick is the only candidate acting on their behalf.

• Former Harvard Pilgrim CEO Charles Baker is opposed to the rate cap, confirming that he is on the side of big insurance companies.  Baker is an industry insider who, during his tenure as CEO, raised rates more than 150 percent.  He has failed to stand up for families and small businesses struggling to pay for double-digit health insurance rate increases.

• Treasurer Timothy Cahill also opposed the rate cap.  He is an outright opponent of the Massachusetts universal health care plan, promising to kill it, and thereby putting at risk the 400,000 Massachusetts residents who previously had no coverage.

• Instead of battling to maintain the status quo in court, big insurance companies should negotiate with hospitals and other health care providers and demand fair prices across the board.  That way, doctors and hospitals get reasonable, but not excessive, rates, and families and small businesses aren’t burdened by unbearably large premium hikes.

• Governor Patrick’s cost-cutting insurance plan is a bridge toward long-term reform.  Thanks to his leadership, families and small businesses across the Commonwealth will be free from unfair, skyrocketing rates.