Health Insurance Needs More Competition

Researchers said the avg. largest insurer held ~64% of a state's market, while the top three controlled ~91%, raising questions about how competitive coverage is.
They argued limited competition and adverse selection can push insurers to favor healthier customers, making stable, customer-friendly markets harder to sustain nationwide.
New insurers may win early enrollment with lower premiums, but smaller patient pools can weaken provider negotiations, raise expenses, and make long-term competition difficult.
In concentrated markets, plans may use perks to attract healthier people or make expensive care harder through higher copays and extra paperwork.
The proposed path is broader oversight: policymakers can rethink market rules so competition works better for customers while limiting distortions tied to preexisting-condition protections.