"Based on our annual analysis, mandated benefits currently increase the cost of basic health coverage from slightly less than 10 percent to more than 50 percent, depending on the state, specific legislative language, and type of health insurance policy," CAHI Research and Policy Director, Victoria Craig Bunce, in a press statement.

The group warns that the "mandate explosion" and the corresponding effect on the cost and availability of health insurance is a direct result of legislative action. "We hope this publication will encourage them to think twice when asked to sponsor or vote on legislation which contains a mandate providing services to the few at the expense of the majority."

"The sheer number of state mandates will make it difficult for states to deliver on one of the key promises repeatedly made by supporters of the new federal health care reform law: that it would provide all Americans with affordable health coverage.  The recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the design of the essential health benefit plans ostensibly grants states the flexibility to craft affordable benefit packages suitable to their populations.  But those states that adopt their current small employer health insurance plan for this purpose will, as our report illustrates, shackle consumers with coverage that is already overloaded with dozens of existing state mandated benefits. These mandates, layered on top of the new federal coverage mandates, will inevitably drive up costs for everyone.  This will actually worsen, rather than fix, the issue of health insurance that is priced out of the reach of many individuals and small employers," said Roy Ramthun, CAHI's Director of Federal Affairs.