FeedsInsurance suggestions offered
To the editor:
Michigan Speaker of the House Andy Dillon suggested a plan to reduce health care costs by $900 million a year and I like the way it looks. All Michigan state employees, retirees, and administration workers would have the same choices so that the school bus driver would have the access to the same plan as the governor.
I think he’s on to something here as a few other states have already adopted this idea. I’d like to add my two cents to the mix and suggest the following:
Any insurance company that wants to participate in this plan cannot refuse coverage to anyone because of prior health conditions. This will make competition work for us and put all the companies on an even playing field. They will have to keep their operating costs down in order to compete and this will lead to lower costs for all including doctors that have to have so many on staff to deal with all the different insurance companies.
The committees to oversee, collect funds, negotiate plans and costs should be an independent public company whose officers should be elected by popular vote every two years. The first term can be “appointed” by a state legislative vote.
Funds collected for the medical plans should not be part of any government general or other fund where politicians can use the money for other projects. I’d suggest having a reputable firm oversee the funds and have them checked periodically by a number of independent accounting firms selected at random to audit the fund.
And if the federal government decides to follow suit, I’d also suggest that they: lift all restrictions off of medical savings accounts; all premiums should remain tax free; all expenses paid towards medical care (co-pays, prescriptions, lab tests and hospital charges) should be tax deductible with no set limitation.
This is a plan that makes sense. Don’t screw it up with further restrictions, recommendations and guidelines. Do not give in to the unions on this one; this will be a good move for Michigan and politically for all
Phil Solarz,
Westland
