Mandates Slashed to Lower Health Costs

Some state legislators want to peel back laws requiring insurance companies to cover certain procedures.

The New Mexico and Georgia State Senate passed bills in March that would allow consumers and small businesses to buy health policies without state mandated health benefits. By slashing some mandates and preserving coverage for such things as cancer screenings and diabetes treatment, lawmakers attest that consumers will end up spending less on health care.

Mandates typically boost the cost of health coverage between 20 and 50 percent, according to a report from the Council for Affordable Health Insurance that lists each state’s mandates and associated costs.