Be wary of claim to keep own plan

In 1964 there was a vibrant health insurance market in this country. People of all ages could purchase health insurance from any one of the hundreds of companies in Washington or any other state. The policies covered what the buyer wanted: major medical only or comprehensive coverage. Prescriptions were covered, too. Many policies had low deductibles and low out-of-pocket maximums. Policies were not only guaranteed renewable (could not be canceled by the insurance company) but some had premiums that could never be increased.

Congress passed a public option called Medicare in 1965. It was hotly debated and critics argued that it would drive private health insurance into the ground. Proponents said (older) people with private insurance could keep the policies they had. And guess what? By 1970 there were no more private health insurance policies for people age 65-plus available anywhere in the country except those that paid the deductibles and co-insurance that Medicare didn’t cover.

When anyone tells you that you can keep the insurance you have and like, that the government public option will only serve to keep insurance companies competitive and honest, be wary. The proponents of the public option know that they can’t have rabbit stew until they catch the rabbit.

Richard Ek

Everett