Federalism, Federal Regulation, or Free Market? An Examination of Mandated Health Benefit Reform

56 Pages Posted: 20 Sep 2006

See all articles by Amy Monahan

Amy Monahan

University of Minnesota Law School

Abstract

Every state regulates the substance of health insurance contracts issued to its residents, requiring the coverage of certain treatments, services, and providers. These state mandated health benefit laws apply only to insured health plans, while self-insured plans (typically sponsored by a large employer) are exempt. The disparate application of state mandated benefit laws is criticized as contributing to an unjust and expensive system of health care in the United States. As a result, state mandated benefit laws are under attack and the subject of numerous federal reform efforts. This article explores three possible approaches to mandated benefit reform: (1) exclusive state regulation of mandated benefits, (2) deregulation of mandated benefits, and (3) positive federal regulation of mandated benefits. The article concludes that there are compelling arguments against both exclusive state regulation and deregulation. While federal regulation is far from perfect, it has significant advantages over the status quo and represents the best way forward for mandated benefit reform. Current and proposed mandated benefit reforms are analyzed in light of these conclusions. The article exposes these reform efforts as coordinated movements toward deregulation, an option that, while respecting individual rights, will harm the sick while improving the position of the healthy.

Keywords: mandated benefits, health reform, state health insurance laws

JEL Classification: 118

Suggested Citation

Monahan, Amy, Federalism, Federal Regulation, or Free Market? An Examination of Mandated Health Benefit Reform. University of Illinois Law Review, Vol. 2007, No. 5, p. 1361, 2007, U of Missouri-Columbia School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2006-32, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=931497

Amy Monahan (Contact Author)

University of Minnesota Law School ( email )

229 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
261
Abstract Views
3,036
Rank
213,191
PlumX Metrics