Health insurance
Health insurance
Insurance made pono
The Hawaii Health Care Connector is a newly appointed 15-member board. It is Hawaii’s version of the health insurance exchange of Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act. This board governs the $300 million market for insurance to the 100,000 uninsured people in our state. The Big Island has a higher than average number of uninsured, so it is particularly important for us that this board work in the interests of the public.
The Senate passed a bill granting Kaiser, HMSA and Hawaii Dental Services permanent voting positions on the board. Many consumer advocates, including the Hawaii Coalition for Health, and Hawaii AARP president Stuart Ho (representing 150,000 members) are very concerned this creates a patent conflict of interest, which could prevent the exchange from fostering competition and lowering premiums.
Since this board makes decisions without any outside controls, it is vital there be no conflict of interest, or even a perceived conflict of interest. The fox should not have the keys to the henhouse.
WHT ran an article April 27 quoting Kaiser CEO Drew Altman: “Greater regulatory scrutiny of private insurance is improving value and helping to get excess costs out of the system.”
In the spirit of this quote, Mr. Altman should be happy to lead the way and have Kaiser step down to a technical consultant capacity, rather than a voting member — and we suggest the other insurers do the same, in fairness to Kaiser. HMOs have much to add to the dialogue, but they should not vote on issues that affect their own pocketbook.
But how can we be sure all the insurers will do what is pono (right) by themselves?
Maybe we should not assume they will. A bill in the Legislature, SB 2434, House Draft 3, is currently being considered. It ensures the insurers will be nonvoting advisory members only. Simple and very necessary. No downside.
Please email your senator at sens@capitol.hawaii.gov, and your representative at reps@capitol.hawaii.gov, and let them know you support this right-minded bill: SB 2434, Draft 3.
Unless they hear from us, from you, they will think we do not care about this vital issue that will affect our pocketbooks for years to come.
Colleen Conner
Kona
Secret Service
Decline of regarded institutions on display
The Secret Service seems like a bunch of spoiled, tie-wearing lightweights. How many of those top secret cleared bozos ever did the dance of the flaming toilet paper?
The decline of the United States of America and its most highly regarded institutions seems to be clearly on display.
Richard Swann
Ocean View