BBQMAN.....I am surely out of my element but hope to learn a lot from this thread.

First of all, you did not specifically mention it, but it seems to me that a basic rule of thumb to reduce the cost of anything is to keep the government out of it.

Free enterprise and competitiveness will normally by nature drive down costs and this brings us to #4 on your list....Failure to have interstate competition for health insurers.

Seems that just that simple act of opening that up would do so much to GET THE GOVERNMENT out of this business.

Here is MY problem...the insurance companies are regulated by the state, and I believe in states rights. How does this become a national market for the insurance companies I ask of those who are well versed in this ???

Having that competitive factor across the state lines , it seems alone would drive down costs. Competition and free market are basically the best way to control these things.

Hopeing somebody who knows the industry can answer the question and even take up the case of the insurance company.


PS.....If we have an insurance guy or gal that can speak to this, please at least for me keep it as simple as possible. I DO KNOW that a bill was proposed in congress, I think last year but will check to allow the interstate selling