Potential Risks Involved in Rudy's Health Plan
July 11, 2007; - Rudy Giuliani's prescription for our health-care woes is not a "real choice" but rather a "risky choice" ("The Choice on Health Care" by Sally C. Pipes, editorial page, June 28). Increasing the tax deductibility of premiums is reasonable -- what presidential candidate can resist throwing money at a problem? But suggesting that consumers purchase health insurance from any state is a recipe for trouble.
In Mr. Giuliani's home state of New York, overzealous legislators and regulators have forced nearly all health insurers to withdraw individual products from the market. His desire to give New Yorkers access to affordable policies is laudable, but regulators in, say, Idaho, are not equipped to protect New York's (and every other state's) consumers. Insurers would quickly move their products to the state with the weakest consumer protection, resulting in an oversight disaster.
Instead, Mr. Giuliani should propose that you must have health insurance to receive your personal tax exemption. New Yorkers would ask their legislators why family policies costing $3,000 per month can often be purchased in Connecticut (and most other states) for $600 per month. Coupling tax exemption and insurance would also penalize people who choose to forgo insurance and receive "free care." We need a carrot and stick approach for the uninsured problem.
Bill Stapleton
CEO, HealthPlanOne
Southport, Conn.
About Health Plan One
Founded in 2005, Health Plan One, LLC is a leader in online health insurance quotes and coverage. The management team and board include former executives of major health insurance plans. Health Plan One represents all major health insurance carriers, such as Aetna, Anthem, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Celtic, United Health Care (underwritten by Golden Rule), and more. The Company offers health insurance quotes and plans nationwide and in all major markets, including Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. For more information, visit , or call 1-877-567-5267.
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