A task force convened by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland recently recommended that the state enact a wide variety of new regulations on health care in the state. In a piece put out by the Buckeye Institute this week, I explain why less regulation, not more, should be the approach used by Ohio:

Among [the recommendations was] the proposal that the government mandate individuals purchase health insurance and require insurers to sell health insurance to all that apply (known as "guaranteed issue" in the health insurance world). Oh, and the state should also impose regulations to make this health insurance "affordable."

What this task force seems to have missed is the fact that you can force insurers to sell people insurance, or you can have affordable health insurance, but it is very hard to have both. Insurance companies stay in business by bringing in more money than they pay out. As part of that, companies may not choose to insure people whom they know will cost a lot.

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One of the main reasons that health insurance is unaffordable to some in the state is because government mandates and rules have raised its cost. The Strickland task force recommendations will only raise this cost further. Instead of looking for ways to meddle in the market, this task force should have explored reforms that Georgia is pursuing, which hold the promise of lower insurance prices through less government regulation.

Affordable health insurance is a noble goal. But you do not reach that goal through more government interference in the market. The experience of other states with this type of regulation shows that if the task force plan is put in effect, it is likely to put health insurance out of reach for even more Ohioans.