McCain and Health Care choice

During Tuesday's presidential debate, Senator McCain advocated allowing Americans to purchase insurance policies across state lines. That is to be able to choose a health care plan that suited them and advise unnecessary mandates. Senator McCain said:

"I want to give every American a $5,000 refundable tax credit. They can take it anywhere, across state lines. Why not? Don't we go across state lines when we purchase other things in America? Of course it's OK to go across state lines because in Arizona they may offer a better plan that suits you best than it does here in Tennessee."

States frequently add mandates for coverage to their insurance laws at the behest of special interests within their states. For example many states require insurance policies to cover care by chiropractors. If I want such a policy and I am willing to give up that particular coverage in exchange for a lower premium, why can't I purchase such a policy?

Some states like Florida required insurance policies to cover hair prosthesis. I am sorry, but if I can purchase a policy that does not provide artificial hair coverings, but does have a lower price, why must I only select the higher price policy?

Every one of these mandates increases the price of health care insurance coverage, and to that extent prices those who need basic coverage out of the market and leaves them uninsured.

Recently Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has signed a bill allowing uninsured Floridians to purchase health insurance plans largely free of expensive, superfluous mandated coverages. A step in the right direction, and combined with Senator McCain's proposal to open that kind of coverage against state lines, a measure of hope for uninsured Americans.