Attack Ads in our Community

 

Many members in our communities received attack ads in their mailbox this week, aimed at local House members regarding votes on a health care bill this past session.  I want to address this issue directly, and assure people that I strongly support access to quality and affordable healthcare.  I am sympathetic to the fact that 1 in 5 Mainers are either uninsured or under-insured.  The legislative committee that handled this bill (LD 290, An Act To Allow Maine Residents To Purchase Health Insurance from Out-of-state Insurers) held a long public hearing and work session, and many important issues were brought up (see list below).  No other state allows this, and for good reason.  At the public hearing the insurance agents testified no company would even offer this insurance nor would any state agree to it. Here are some of the reasons given:

·         Cherry-picking based on age, health status, location, etc.

·         Maine insurers would be more, not less, likely to leave the state

·         Consumer protections would be lost

·         Consumers would have no one to go to appeal claim denials

·         Pre-existing health problems

·         Maine-based medical providers would not be covered

·         Patients could end up being sued for payment, as well as Maine doctors

·         Many providers would not be covered, period, because the Maine requirements wouldn’t apply

·         If the company went belly-up, there is no backup plan

·         Other states won’t let their general fund and insurance assessment dollars be used to benefit Mainers, meaning we would pay higher premiums than in-state consumers

 

My number one reason for opposing the bill is that an out of state insurer would be allowed to refuse coverage to an applicant based on their health status.  Most policy experts and those in the health care community did not support the bill. While it sounds good on paper, in reality, it does more harm than good. When experts consider health reform proposals, they typically ask two questions: Does the reform address health care cost drivers? And does the reform result in accessible, quality, affordable and secure health coverage? LD 290 accomplished neither. There is no question that should a proposal like this pass; many young, healthy adults could find a good policy out of state.  Once that person gets sick though, they could face denial letter after denial letter and be totally on their own when they need coverage most.  This doesn't even take into account the many insurance companies that deny applicants for absurd reasons, like being a woman of child-bearing age. 

If this bill had passed, there would be minimal oversight on the private insurance industry.  Many consumers and businesses could easily become victims of deceptive marketing and other unfair trade practices.  The Bureau of Insurance would have no authority to deal with any of the bad seeds that exist in the insurance industry.  On top of all of this, we did not get any comment from any out-of-state insurance company expressing interest in selling health insurance across state lines.

I am hopeful that our State and Nation will soon work out a solution for true health care reform that guarantees quality care for all of our citizens, at a reasonable price. 

 

Sincerely,

 

State Rep. Melissa Walsh Innes, District 107 (Yarmouth), 318-8742