A public health insurance plan should be
an option for everyone, alongside private
health insurance plans. However, U.S. Sens.
Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, along with U.S.
Rep. Cynthia Lummis, are siding with Big
Insurance and HMOs over the citizens of Wyoming
and the American people. They have teamed up
with private health insurers and are fighting
to make sure no public health insurance plan
cuts into private health insurer markets at a
time when we're enacting reforms to cover
everyone.
The public supports a public
health insurance plan option. A public health
insurance plan is supported by 73 percent of
voters, even when they hear the sharpest
insurance industry attacks. This includes
Democrats (77 percent), Independents (79
percent) and Republicans (63 percent), as well
as urban (73 percent) and rural (71 percent)
voters.
The public health insurance plan
would compete on a level playing field with
private plans and would be administered by
government but funded through premiums and it
would make coverage more affordable. Escalating
health care costs are a growing burden for
working families, employers and the government.
A public health insurance plan will have lower
administrative costs than private health
insurance plans and it will not have to earn a
profit.
These features, combined with
its ability to establish payment rates, will
result in lower premiums for coverage through a
public health insurance plan. Through
competition, even those purchasing coverage
through a private health insurance plan will
benefit from lower costs. When premiums are
lower, that means less spending on federal
subsidies for those who qualify for financial
help.
A public health insurance plan
would drive quality improvements and more
rational provider payments. A public health
insurance plan can introduce quality
advancements and innovation that private
insurance companies have little incentive to
implement. Just as Medicare has led the way
with payment reforms that are driving quality
improvements now being adopted by private
plans, a public health insurance plan can
develop innovative payment mechanisms, expand
quality incentives and adopt evidence-based
protocols.
A public health insurance
plan promotes competition and keeps private
plans honest. Consolidation in the private
insurance industry has narrowed price and
quality competition. In fact, in 2005, private
insurance markets in 96 percent of metropolitan
areas were considered highly concentrated and
anti-competitive, which left consumers with
little choice. A public health insurance
option, coupled with a more regulated private
insurance market, will break the stranglehold a
handful of companies have on the insurance
market and will give consumers enough choices
to vote with their feet and change
plans.
A public health insurance plan
guarantees stable and continuous coverage.
Private insurance plans can change their
benefits, alter cost-sharing, contract with
different providers and move in and out of
markets. A public health insurance plan always
will be there to provide coverage when it is
needed and it offers security as we build a new
system of highly regulated private health
insurance options.
A public health
insurance plan available to everyone will
provide rural areas like Wyoming with the
security of health benefits that are there when
rural residents need them, just as Medicare has
been a constant source of coverage while
private Medicare Advantage and Part D plans
churn in and out of rural areas every
year.
Casper Star
Tribune 10/21/2009
