TNR Swings....and misses

Reality is hard for progressives:

"[T]rue competition can't exist without regulation."

This is of a piece with Sen Reid's recent proclamation that "[m]illionaire job creators are like unicorns. They are impossible to find and don’t exist.”

Tell that to, say, the late Steve Jobs or the very much alive Noah Glass, or even Messrs Ben and Jerry. But the bigger picture is that it is the over-regulation of insurance that has led us to where we are.

Mr Cohn cites his colleague Aaron Carroll, who continues to believe, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that MassCare works (and thus ObamneyCare© is destined to, as well). Mr Carroll's argument hinges on the fact that the individual medical insurance market uses actuarially sound underwriting, which results in folks who develop significant health problems being locked into existing coverage, with no hope of changing for the better.

[As an aside, he's absolutely correct that this is a problem, one exacerbated, rather than solved, by ObamneyCare©s stupid PCIP rules]

But Mr Carroll (and thus Mr Cohn) double down on the fail:

"[S]ince the law [then-Gov Romney] signed in Massachusetts did exactly that. It organized the individual market, so all that people buying on their own can choose from among a variety of plans that they know will provide basic coverage and will always be there for them when they need it."

It's always the half-truths with folks like this. Yes, MassCare "organized" the individual market, if by "organize" one means forcing insurers to flee the state (resulting in less - not more - competition); increasing premiums, elevating the Bay State to the top tier of state debt, and encouraging folks to game the system for (essentially) free health care.

All that, and they still end up reducing choices in health care.

That is the result of "regulating competition."

But of course there's a silver lining here, right?

Not so much:

"The Affordable Care Act does the same thing"

Boy, howdy.

The TNR Boys conveniently neglect to mention, of course, that regulation in the form of mandates continue to drive up health insurance costs. And, of course, ObamneyCare© essentially outlaws consumer-centric health plans (eg HSA's), further decreasing choice and increasing expense.

Good thing we passed it to learn what was in it.

[Hat Tip: FoIB Holly R]