Letter to the editor: Public option is needed for health care reform

Talk about it

My wife and I appreciated Charles Linderman’s letter.

Only a person who has his/her head in the proverbial sand would say this country has the best health care system in the world while not mentioning it is also the most expensive — 50 percent more than the next most costly country. One example: our infant mortality rates rank us 29th while, on the other end of life, citizens of many other countries live longer. On the cost side: since 1999, employment-based health insurance premiums have increased 120 percent, out-of-pocket medical costs 115 percent, inflation “only” 44 percent and wages 29 percent.

In North Dakota, average annual premiums of $11,000 are expected to rise to nearly $20,000 in 10 years. As one result of these high costs, more people have to give up their health care coverage even though they are employed (39 million to date). In North Dakota between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2010, about 10,000 of us will have lost our health care insurance.

(As a side item, in 2005 the CEOs in health care and insurance earned about $550 million; during the past five years, they pocketed $14.9 billion.)

On a personal side, we pay about $200 a month for our Medicare. We also carry a private, supplementary insurance which picks up whatever Medicare does not cover — usually a remaining 20 percent. For this secondary coverage, we pay $275 a month. We are also enrolled with a private medication carrier. After just one year of coverage during which time there was no change in our prescription drug needs, the premium went up more than 100 percent while out-of-pocket costs increased 80 percent. That $550 million had to come from someone’s pocket, right? We wish that instead of lying to us about “death panels,” Congress would be concerned as to how seniors (and so many others) can continue to afford increasing health insurance premiums!

We note Sen. Kent Conrad’s opposition to a single health carrier or even some proposed public option other than his idea of a co-op. We challenge Conrad to show us how much these electrical and agricultural co-ops have saved its members. What are its rates in comparison to the “big boys.” Secondly, how much money does Conrad receive from the health care industry?

We remain members of the more than 75 percent of Americans who want a public option and supportive of those who wish to retain what they have. We have no fear of government overseeing matters such as Medicare nor would we prevent family members from using the VA. We will continue to support public schools, the current postal system, the network of highways, our libraries and other such government controlled activities.

Maury Reyerson and Anna Klarowicz

St. Cloud, Minn.

Tags: opinion, letter, healthcare