The other Blue

Strong opposition to the sale of Blue Cross of Maine to Anthem Insurance of Indiana, as a recent poll showed, is not sufficient reason on its own to embrace the alternative plan from Blue Cross of Massachusetts. But it is good reason for the public to understand the details of the alternative and ensure the state takes it into consideration as the proposed sale to Anthem continues to be examined.

Recent polling at the behest of Maine Medical Association and the Coalition for Affordable Health Care, which oppose the sale, show 62 percent of those polled did not want to see Blue Cross sold to the Indiana company. But with Blue Cross lacking the needed reserves to continue to compete in a field of increasingly larger insurers, there did not seem to be any other choice.

It is not clear whether the affiliation proposed by Blue Cross of Massachusetts, which is much larger than the Maine insurer and has a far healthier cash reserve, is the right answer. But given that the proposed affiliation — to be called Blue Cross Blue Shield of New England — would remain not-for-profit, allow the Maine company to continue to operate independently and still save on administration costs, Maine Blue Cross subscribers need to know more about this offer.

Blue Cross officials here say they do not believe the offer from the Massachusetts Blue is still on the table, which comes as a surprise to the insurers in Massachusetts. Whether this disagreement is the result of misunderstanding or misinformation, the alternative is available now and should be taken seriously.

One way to take it seriously is for lawmakers to familiarize themselves with the two proposals and make sure that Blue Cross of Maine is pursuing the better deal for subscribers. Time is short, however, to do this. Maine’s superintendent of insurance has only until the end of this month to decide on the Anthem offer. It would be a shame if Maine surrendered its nonprofit health insurer needlessly.