Published: October 29, 2008 11:07 pm      

These are contrasting ideas on health insurance

Important problems we face as a national community are little discussed during this election campaign. Here are two quotes from recently published sources that bear serious thought:

From the September/October issue of the American Academy of Actuaries magazine, “Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state based regulation.”

The author, Senator McCain, does not feel that the 53 percent of Americans who now get health insurance from their employers need protection from the risk of losing it.

Lisa Dubay, director of policy studies department of health policy and management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, wrote on Oct. 12, “Current tax policy on health insurance favors those who have the highest incomes and those who receive the most generous benefits from their employers.

“Senator McCain’s strategy would be an ingenious way to fund expansions in coverage through a progressive taxing scheme, were it not for the reverberations that would be felt in the employer health insurance market, which experts agree would push tens of millions of people into the individual market.

“In the individual market, administrative costs as a share of premiums are more than 20 percent higher than costs in employer-group markets and in public plans. So much for the greater efficiency.”

Ms. Dubay points out that individual premiums vary by age, health condition and where you live — while tax credits would be uniform for all. McCain’s plan could steer a wobbly system straight into the ground. Those who need the coverage most would likely feel the impact first.

One suggestion for tens of millions who cannot afford individual health plans is to pay all or part of their premiums out of the Medicare Trust funds, If you or a family member are within 10 or 15 years of retirement this should be a serious concern.

Remember many of the people are still in Congress who wanted to consider putting your Social Security funds into the private investment system.. They have plans for your future. Send Jennifer to the House to keep an eye on these schemers.

Thomas F. Conlon

Cumberland