Unfortunately, the article doesn't answer the question of why NY had starkly higher insurance premiums before those two rules were implemented in 2009. I was purchasing insurance in NY in 2002-2005 and premiums were 3-4 times what they are in other states. This was before 2009, and partially before Timothy's law, and all that.
I think, perhaps, the fact that NY has such comprehensive support at the low end of the income distribution, through medicaid, family health plus, healthy NY, etc., causes all of those young, healthy but lower-income people to drop out of the market for insurance. This leaves higher-income and older people in the self-insured and employer-sponsored pools, driving up the base rates.
In any event, a study by the Manhattan Institute, as referenced by the article, isn't very trustworthy. It would be very hard for them to release a study that said anything different, which to me means that there is inherent bias.
I think, perhaps, the fact that NY has such comprehensive support at the low end of the income distribution, through medicaid, family health plus, healthy NY, etc., causes all of those young, healthy but lower-income people to drop out of the market for insurance. This leaves higher-income and older people in the self-insured and employer-sponsored pools, driving up the base rates.
In any event, a study by the Manhattan Institute, as referenced by the article, isn't very trustworthy. It would be very hard for them to release a study that said anything different, which to me means that there is inherent bias.