Ryan Holderman: Letter from Senator Sherrod Brown
From Ryan Holderman, July 9, 2009
Subject: Reply from Senator Sherrod Brown
Subject: Reply from Senator Sherrod Brown
Dear One & All:
Senator Brown responded to my letter as he always has. Senator Voinovich, on the other hand, has not!
The underlining and emphasis are mine.
Later,
Ryan
Ryan
From Sen. Sherrod Brown, July 9, 2009
Dear Ryan:
Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding the state of the American health care system. Since first coming to Congress in 1993, I have refused to enroll in the coverage offered to members of Congress until every American has access to high quality, affordable health insurance. When our nation achieves this goal, I would be pleased to enroll.
Health care reform is desperately needed in this country. While costs mount for those with health care plans, 50 million Americans remain uninsured and millions more are underinsured. I strongly believe that our health care system is in need of reform that reduces the long-term growth of health care costs for business and government; protects families from bankruptcy or debt because of health expenditures; guarantees choice of doctors and health plans; invests in prevention and wellness; improves patient safety and quality of care; assures affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans; and ends barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
The Senate is currently examining many issues relating to health care reform. I appreciate the input I have received from you and other Ohioans on this issue.
One promising solution to the problems of cost, quality, and access that plague our health care system is to increase competition in the health insurance market. If the private insurance industry was truly competitive, then there would be strong incentives to provide coverage to as many Americans as possible and to build customer loyalty through cost savings and quality improvements. Unfortunately, insurers do not truly compete against one another; instead, they make use of the same basic strategies to earn significant profits. These tactics include selectively insuring the lowest risk enrollees, slow-walking claims payments so they can earn interest on every premium dollar, and denying as many claims as possible.
What the insurance industry needs is some healthy competition from a public insurance option. This option would not replace employer-sponsored coverage; it would simply give uninsured or underinsured Americans the choice of enrolling in an insurance plan that does not engage in the same cost-avoidance tactics as private insurance plans do. The public insurance option would also be a vehicle for quality, coverage, and provider access improvements that set the bar higher for private insurance plans.
Thank you again for getting in touch with me on this matter. As work on health care reform continues in Congress, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding the state of the American health care system. Since first coming to Congress in 1993, I have refused to enroll in the coverage offered to members of Congress until every American has access to high quality, affordable health insurance. When our nation achieves this goal, I would be pleased to enroll.
Health care reform is desperately needed in this country. While costs mount for those with health care plans, 50 million Americans remain uninsured and millions more are underinsured. I strongly believe that our health care system is in need of reform that reduces the long-term growth of health care costs for business and government; protects families from bankruptcy or debt because of health expenditures; guarantees choice of doctors and health plans; invests in prevention and wellness; improves patient safety and quality of care; assures affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans; and ends barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
The Senate is currently examining many issues relating to health care reform. I appreciate the input I have received from you and other Ohioans on this issue.
One promising solution to the problems of cost, quality, and access that plague our health care system is to increase competition in the health insurance market. If the private insurance industry was truly competitive, then there would be strong incentives to provide coverage to as many Americans as possible and to build customer loyalty through cost savings and quality improvements. Unfortunately, insurers do not truly compete against one another; instead, they make use of the same basic strategies to earn significant profits. These tactics include selectively insuring the lowest risk enrollees, slow-walking claims payments so they can earn interest on every premium dollar, and denying as many claims as possible.
What the insurance industry needs is some healthy competition from a public insurance option. This option would not replace employer-sponsored coverage; it would simply give uninsured or underinsured Americans the choice of enrolling in an insurance plan that does not engage in the same cost-avoidance tactics as private insurance plans do. The public insurance option would also be a vehicle for quality, coverage, and provider access improvements that set the bar higher for private insurance plans.
Thank you again for getting in touch with me on this matter. As work on health care reform continues in Congress, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
posted by Kathie Bracy at 8:49 PM
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