Healthcare Fiasco



Mark Morgan

Undergraduate/Political Science

With the recent and long lasting controversy over Congress’s proposed healthcare reform bill, the debate over interstate insurance sales has once again risen to the forefront. Although the direct implications of this debate upon the healthcare bill are obvious, it is the larger implications that have arisen that truly matter, and should serve to refocus the conservative movement back upon its founding principles.

For those unfamiliar, each state currently regulates insurance by mandating that each insurance provider must register with the state, and must not be registered in any other state. All 50 states contain this provision, thus banning any interstate sales of insurance. The result is that legislation meant to protect consumers instead created regional monopolies capable of driving up cost without market repercussions. Thus, the prices of plans can vary as much as $4,000 between states while varying little to none in coverage. Congressional Democrats’ solution: regulate the monopolies.

Despite the fact that any reasonable individual could see that legalizing interstate insurance sales would quickly help ease healthcare costs and destroy regional monopolies, Democrats instead see an opportunity to expand government’s grasp through more regulation. This illustrates a crucial tenet of conservatism; government regulation simply breeds more government regulation. 

Time after time we experience the same scenario. One generation of policymakers see fit to regulate free market behavior on the promise of “protecting” consumers. Despite the obvious economic complications, policymakers on all sides are shamed into supporting it since its altruistic nature must surely outweigh its marginal costs. Years later, another generation of policymakers are forced to deal with very real effects of the previous policies, and once again resort to regulation to save the American consumer from himself. 

Not only has this strategy perennially failed to produce any meaningful solutions, it has consistently grown the federal bureaucracy and with it the consequences of its inherent inefficiencies. Republicans in Congress now stand at a crucial point, return to their conservative fundamentals and stand up to the proposed healthcare reforms as entirely unnecessary, ineffective and dangerous expansions of government, or instead fall victim to the delusion of bipartisan progress. If the bill expands regulatory power while dismissing actual market solutions, then it is not a bipartisan solution, but a carefully crafted, counterproductive bill of goods. It’s time for Republicans to draw a line in the sand. Healthcare is too important to be left in the hands of government officials. 


The Flip Side is a publication dedicated to providing an alternative media outlet and forum on the UW-Eau Claire campus by welcoming the writings, views, and involvement of all students and community members. By reporting on news, perspectives, and opinions on all issues, we seek to develop and maintain our freedom of speech.

All published material remains the property of the individual contributors. Opinions of the writers and contributors are their own. Articles found within, in no way reflect the opinion of The Flipside Press as a whole. The Flipside Press rserves the right to reject any advertising, articles, letters, images, or other material submitted for publication.