The part of this that annoys me is that this concept apparently depends on the states being willing to permit such things.
As I understand it, the way things function now is that each different states structures their insurance regulations differently, which therefore prevents there being any competition across state lines. A person living in Florida simply can't purchase health insurance from a company in Georgia, because it's illegal for a company in Georgia to cover a Floridian with a Georgia health insurance policy.
It seems like there's a problematic federalism issue here. If the states can't be "convinced" to permit this liberalization of the insurance industry, then the federal government's hands are essentially tied, right?
So I'm not sure how "free market" principles can be imposed on states which aren't interested in practicing them.
In any event, it's certainly not the President's, the Congress', or the federal government's fault that the states, acting individually, create a situation which utterly prevents free markets in health insurance to exist.
Am I missing something, or is this a problem intrinsic to the way our Constitutional system is structured?
It doesn't seem like there are any easy fixes...
Ok, those states who refuse to go along with it are left out of the nationwide free market. Their loss. They may choose to join in later if it’s a proven cost saver. States are free to make those decisions.
Credit Card companies work across state lines. They have to do some things differently in different states to keep them happy. States smartly try to get out of their way when they can.
Cell phone companies work across state lines. I do not sign up with Verizon of Ohio or Tennessee, I sign up with Verizon. There are quirks of the states they have to observe but there is a national market.
Here’s another idea to add to my other above:
Do not only cross state lines: CROSS TIME LINES !
Why are terms of insurance arbitrarily 1 year starting 1/1/xxxx and running through 12/31/xxxx ???
All that does is make a lot of work pile up at certain times of year. It is a MESS with medication coverage, etc. The plans have to re-sell themselves annually right when no one wants to deal with it, holidays. And it results in a bunch of changes that do not need to happen annually.
Why not run it like a credit card? Or like cell phones? They do not cancel your card or your phone annually, and then make you sign up again on a different plan they concocted.
No, when they want to change something they send out a notice, give you the chance to switch or stay.
Run insurance continuously and and change it when needed with adequate notice.
GET EMPLOYERS OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF PURCHASING YOUR FOOD (oops, I meant insurance, both are not appropriate to delegate to your employer).
Since progressives think that people are so irresponsible (and some are) and if their employers does not buy insurance then the employee will not do it, even if he or she is given the money for it. Employees given that money will spend it on a party, right? That’s one rationale for making employers collect taxes also.
But if they have to spend their own money they will be more careful with it. THAT IS FREE MARKET. If we do not get people spending their own money on things to get the value they want than we will not have the powerful leverage of the free market working. This is MANDATORY.
Maybe the employer just funds a health savings acct every month, pre-tax, and each person can use that money to buy insurance and incidentally can accumulate money to spend tax free on co-pays and deductibles. All medical expenses should be 100% deductible all the time.
When people move or change jobs nothing happens to their coverage, except that just like with car insurance, there is a price adjustment made to the premiums for the predicted costs in the area you live in. Same as cars. San Francisco = expensive premium! Texas = not as expensive.
We have to get employers out of buying insurance.
RinoCare is not even close to the free market and is not going to lead there in two more “prongs.” The Gruberized Fascist core will remain and corrupt.