re: Question about interstate competition amongst insurance companies...

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The problem is that claims are too high. Claims are too high mainly because we are an unhealthy, fat and lazy and lack personal responsibility.

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Why that may contribute to more use of health care it is not the reason cost have risen faster than inflation.

Cost have risen--for the most part--higher than the cost of inflation because the biggest purchaser of health care services---the US government---is a very poor shopper.

It is really simple---a provider can not charge LESS than they charge medicare for a service if they are to be a medicare provider. SO--drug companies and providers beg for increases from the bureaucrats and get them because of lobbying $$$$. When they get another $2 for a pill or something from the government then the cost of that pill goes up to everybody else.

The only way to lower the cost of healthcare is to get the government out of the business of direct purchasing of healthcare services and make the consumers the shopper. We could reimburse poor people if need be.