Maine U.S. Sen. Susan Collins says high-risk pools could be one way to make health insurance plans more affordable.
Collins serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is holding hearings aimed at developing a replacement law for the Affordable Care Act.
Collins acknowledges that some states might need federal assistance in setting up high-risk pools, and she questioned several governors about wether they have the resources to set up reinsurance systems.
“Many states are simply not in the position to immediately stand up their own high risk pools and finance them,” Collins said.
The governors on the panel said that while federal help might be needed to fund those systems, the states are best equipped to operate them.
Hearing are scheduled to continue through the month.
