AJ02 said:
And I get those general factors, but I have such little faith and trust in both government and insurance companies that I have a hard time believing premiums would actually get lowered even if they could be. Once prices are up and people get used to paying higher prices....what's the incentive to drop them back down? Rather, I see companies instead trying to find more and more efficiencies yet keeping their prices unchanged, which then just means more profit in their pockets.
The other element is adding competition to the mix. Let the Walmarts, Amazons, and others offer a large pool insurance program to their customers. Sure, they have to get a fair profit to make it worth their while, but competition helps force prices and margins down.
Right now insurance can't be pooled across state lines, and ACA programs are required to include benefits that customers might not want.
Open it up and let the free market do its thing, which usually results in competition, innovation, and a variety of options.