OLYMPIA - The state Senate unanimously approved a bill allowing consumers to purchase health insurance out of state, hoping increased competition will lower premiums.

"Federal healthcare reform was intended to address the issue of access to care, but it did nothing to control the spiraling cost of care," said Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee.

Parlette is the sponsor of bill 5540, requiring the state Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) to identify other states to contract with to offer insurance across state lines.

"Currently, individuals and families in some areas of our state have only one option for insurance," she said. "Without meaningful competition, it's no wonder that premiums are so high."

Parlette introduced a similar bill in 2012 that failed to come to a vote in the House.

"Our citizens should have the option of purchasing insurance from responsible companies in other states - just like they do for other products."

If passed in the House of Representatives, the OIC would have to identify potential partners by the start of 2014.

"I sincerely appreciate all of the work my legislative colleagues from both sides of the aisle have put in on this idea," Parlette said. "I'm glad to see there's consensus for the need to provide more insurance options to our state's citizens and I'm hopeful this bill will pass into law this year."