In my state, any association "group" plan is individual underwritten. They have these BS marketing associations with names that sound like the "Small Business Assoociation", but are really the Small Business Organization (or something like that). It is mostly just marketing.
@buying across state lines - And even if you could buy health insurance across state lines, they will still provide rates by zip code. i.e. one zip code in suburban Houston (even) has different rates than an urban Houston zip code sometimes. And I'm guessing with that much of a premium difference, you aren't comparing apples to apples.
And that Republican brilliance will not solve the problem of people getting declined who have pre-existing conditions. Really one of my biggest frustrations with writing health policies was the cheesy reasons insurers would use to decline people or rider any pre-existing condition.
Really find somebody experienced in your local area. Right now, almsot everything is regulated at the state level, and plans you can buy are realy local . Most of what I would know about Texas insurance would not be true in New Jersey or New York - and it will probably also not be true in 6 months.
