Interstate Health Insurance Already Exists
This is by Merrill Mathews, writing in today's Wall Street Journal:
Many people in the employer-provided group market – about 160 million Americans – can already get health insurance across state lines. As a senator Mr. Obama, for example, lives in Illinois, but can get his health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which is not located in Illinois.
In addition, lots of small employers who offer health insurance through state-regulated insurers have employees who live in other states. And when my youngest daughter moved from Texas to New Jersey to go to graduate school, she remained on our family's Texas-regulated health insurance.
In fact, people living in one state who buy health insurance in the individual market often move to other states, carrying their insurance policy across state lines.
Full editorial [here].
Imagine that! And where are all the horrible problems the Obama people keep telling us about?
It appears that buying across state lines is good for Sen. Obama, but not for you and me.
The major reason no loyal Democrat, including Obama, will support this is because if interstate commerce is allowed,the healthy, educated insurance buyer will purchase a customized policy with only the coverages desired for the lowest possible price. That will reduce the premium contributions to the community-rated “pot” in each State which will reduce the amount of subsidies available for repetitively sick and/or indigent medical consumers. In other words, it will defeat thee beloved re-distribution of wealth in this case through higher premiums on all.