Obama recently asked supporters of his Health Care plan to write letters to the editors of their local newspapers. I sent this letter to both the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Business Journal. It ran in the Houston Business Journal on 4/17/09.
Letter to Editor -
As a business owner in the Houston area, I want to weigh in on the debate regarding health care.
One in six Americans are uninsured, and millions more are
underinsured for the coverage they need. Currently, it is next to
impossible for a small to medium-sized business to provide health
coverage for employees.
Our group rates have increased a minimum of 15 percent each year for
the past 10 years, we are required to provide at least 75 percent of
the premium and at least 75 percent of our employees have to
participate in order for us to qualify for a group plan.
These three things in combination make it impossible to continue
coverage. I have done so at great cost, and do not know if it can
continue.
Certainly any start-up or struggling new company will not be able to
afford to provide group insurance in this economy and in the face of
other rising raw material and energy costs — the situation is untenable.
If I have to stop my group plan, all those covered will then not be
covered for pre-existing conditions (if they then choose to get private
insurance), and their premiums will double or more (if they can get
insurance).
A business should not be the only way a person can get affordable
coverage. It should be an accessible purchase comparable to life, home
and auto insurance. It should be handled by the individual — not an
employer.
Choices are limited by employers, and the group policies are always
at risk of disappearing for the employee. This can happen either
because the employer can no longer afford it, they lose their job, or
the company goes out of business. Individuals need to be able to
control health insurance for themselves and their families,
irrespective of their employment situation.
I support President Obama’s proposed plan of allowing individuals to
access government plans. However, if Obama’s health care plan gets
changed to exclude a public option like Medicare, then it is not health
care reform. A public option is the only way to guarantee health care
for all Americans. Any legislation without it is just more of the same
broken system.
America deserves a choice. Let people choose between keeping the
for-profit insurance they already have — if they want it — or a public
health care option like Medicare.
Insurance companies and health maintenance organizations are afraid
of a public health care option because competition will force them to
provide better service at lower cost.
In the long-run, however, it will take them to a new level of
effectiveness and performance — as competition does for any industry.
The way they perform now is inefficient, too reliant on paperwork and
man-hours.
