The Miami Herald reports that 25 percent of Floridians are uninsured. The story goes on to say that state Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty led a panel last Friday to consider the state's options in addressing the problem.

Recommendations to be considered, according to the Herald, include an individual mandate, more government intervention, or even more government intervention. The paper goes on to say that other options include "expanding the use of stripped-down insurance plans that don't have the same level of coverage as other insurance."

Don't hold your breath on that last one.

When the dust settled, the insurance commissioner led the charge behind the following recommendation: "In order to reduce further segmentation of the market as well as the competitive advantages for out-of-state group plans, apply all regulatory requirements to all insurers licensed to do business in Florida."

Question for Mr. McCarty: When you eliminate "competitive advantages" don't you essentially eliminate competition?

In other words, the commissioner would refuse to give the uninsured access to a less-regulated, and therefore less-expensive, policy. And then he complains that the uninsured don't have access to affordable policies