WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., and Tom Perriello, D-Va., will introduce a bill Friday to repeal the anti-trust exemption for health and medical malpractice insurance companies.

According to Markey's office, the measure would "end special treatment for the insurance industry that allows them to fix prices, collude with each other, and set their own markets without fear of being investigated."

"I've heard from tens of thousands of Coloradans across my district, and though people's opinions may vary, the common message is clear: The current health-care system is crushing our families and businesses," Markey said in announcing the proposed bill. "Support for removing this unfair exemption cuts across party lines and is a major piece of common ground that I've been working toward in our country's health-care debate. This is about bringing sorely needed competition back into an industry that has for too long wielded monopoly control over hard-working American families."

Under the proposed Markey-Perriello bill, health insurers will no longer be protected from liability for price fixing, dividing up market territories or bid rigging. Markey said over the last 14 years, there have been 400 mergers among health-care insurers so that 95 percent of health insurance markets are "highly concentrated," meaning consumers have little or no choice between insurers.

"This non-competitive market has led to health insurance premiums having more than doubled in the past decade," the announcement said.

Markey and Perriello will hold a press conference to formally unveil the bill at the Capitol on Friday.