WICS Live: Around the States

Minnesota: Governor Proposes Interstate Insurance Compact. In a letter to other governors October 21st, Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) asked his counterparts to join him in establishing an interstate health insurance compact that would call for standards in the health care market, enabling insurers to compete with one another across state boards. According to Pawlenty's letter, the proposed compact would allow states to share common regulatory standards, thereby facilitating the purchase of health insurance across state lines. It would also allow more insurers to do business in states would both increase competition and choice. The proposal would need Congressional consent and would also likely need legislative approval in Minnesota, since state law now requires health care insurers doing business in the state to be non-profit.