, Columnist
States Have Some Bad Ideas for Keeping Insurers
The more markets left without insurance, the harder Obamacare's problems are to fix.
It's getting lonely out there.
Photographer: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Insurers have been pulling out of Obamacare, and that’s a problem.
How big a problem depends on where you live. In some counties, no insurers may be willing to offer coverage. In others, such as the metro New York City area, competition remains robust. But when you look at the maps of coverage, the pattern is clear: Every year, the areas with deep markets shrink, and those with monopolies, near-monopolies, or no coverage at all grow. And even in relatively healthy exchanges with a fair number of choices, exits mean disruption for customers who may lose access to their current doctors.