[jonrick46]

The problem with buying insurance across state lines is the states themselves. Any insurance company dealing with the citizens of a state has to abide with the insurance regulations of that state. By the time these insurance companies comply with the state’s insurance regulations, they just about operate just like the other insurance companies working in that state. There is very little difference and, after the cost of the regulations is passed on to the rate payers, there is little that can be done to lower costs in my humble opinion.

[SkyPilot]

The problem with buying insurance across state lines is the states themselves. Any insurance company dealing with the citizens of a state has to abide with the insurance regulations of that state. By the time these insurance companies comply with the state’s insurance regulations, they just about operate just like the other insurance companies working in that state. There is very little difference and, after the cost of the regulations is passed on to the rate payers, there is little that can be done to lower costs in my humble opinion.

All true, and your posts speaks to a greater problem we have in the healthcare insurance and healthcare provider industry - it is overrun with "middlemen."

Health Care Has a Middleman Problem

There are literally millions of people who get paychecks in the healthcare industry who do nothing in providing direct healthcare to the injured, the sick, the diseased, or the dying.

They are the middlemen - and they have expanded exponentially in the last 40 years.

http://economyandmarkets.com/demographic-trends/health-care/health-care-costs-benefits-structure-insurance-middleman/

[I-ambush]

I thought the idea was to allow the consumer to buy the plan as it stands, regardless of where the insurer is located. Otherwise, as you pointed out, the provision is pointless.

[i_robot73]

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The problem with buying insurance across state lines is the states themselves. Any insurance company dealing with the citizens of a state has to abide with the insurance regulations of that state. By the time these insurance companies comply with the state’s insurance regulations, they just about operate just like the other insurance companies working in that state. There is very little difference and, after the cost of the regulations is passed on to the rate payers, there is little that can be done to lower costs in my humble opinion.
>

THIS is where a true utilization of the ‘Commerce Clause’ would come into effect. No different here.

Mandate catastrophic, male/female/family a/o a la carte, then let loose. See which is viable that the State wishes to tack on.

[ScottfromNJ]

“By the time these insurance companies comply with the state’s insurance regulations, they just about operate just like the other insurance companies working in that state.”

That’s true, but increasing competition at least helps to reduce the cost to consumers.