http://www.forbes.com/2011/02/23/obamacare-insurance-regulation-opinions-contributors-sally-pipes.html?partner=opinions_newsletterNearly three weeks after U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruled the president's health care overhaul unconstitutional in a lawsuit brought by 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business, confusion is plaguing the American health care system. Some states are preparing to enforce the law while others have adopted a wait-and-see approach.
The Obama administration, meanwhile, has asked Vinson to clarify that states must implement the law while the appeals process runs its course.
Despite all the uncertainty, private insurers aren't taking any chances. They're in the midst of adjusting to the law's requirement that they spend a certain percentage of their revenues on medical claims. ObamaCare's advocates hope the provision will ensure consumers get good value for their premium dollars. And if the rule makes life harder for insurers, so much the better.
Unfortunately this "minimum medical loss ratio" regulation will harm not just insurers but workers and employers too, as they'll face higher prices and fewer choices for insurance.