Heartland Institute - State Laws Can Cripple Market for Health Insurance

Excerpt: "The good news is it is never too late to reform. Over the past few years, Kentucky and South Carolina have passed reforms aimed at un-doing changes made in the late 1990s that had devastated their health insurance markets. Insurers are returning to both states, with more options at affordable prices, and more people are getting coverage once again. In other states, high underlying health care costs may contribute to high health insurance premiums."

Health Care News - State Regulations Drive Up Health Care Costs: Study

Excerpt: "Insurance premiums are $80 per month higher in states that require more than the national average of 26 benefits, mandate direct access to specialists, make employers liable for damages because of health plans, or prevent insurers from terminating contracts with medical providers, than in states without those regulations."

American Legislative Exchange Council - Health Insurance Regulation

Excerpt: "It has been the state legislatures, not the federal government, that have been on the forefront of the health care reform debate, by aggressively leading the charge to ensure that the public is protected in health insurance transactions. The state-based regulatory schemes have served the interests of the public well, without unnecessary interference by the federal government."