High deductible

In Dr. Erik Steele’s column (BDN, Dec. 26), he recommends a low-cost, bare-bones health insurance option for Maine workers to prevent businesses from dropping all health insurance for their employees. He suggests Maine spend $100 million for this purpose and the self-interested parties of business, health insurers, health care and government work together to produce this product by next Christmas.

Health insurers already offer these no-frills products with various deductibles and co-payments at reasonable prices. They are available to individuals, and large and small businesses. If government needs to do anything it is to eliminate their mandates and allow individuals to make their own judgments about what to add, and to approve the sale of these products in Maine. It will cost Maine nothing.

The Blue Ribbon Health Care Commission recommended a high deductible catastrophic policy of perhaps $5,000 to $8,000 for every Maine citizen. As a payroll tax this would probably cost less than what we currently pay for unemployment insurance and would be the compassionate thing to do. This action would dramatically lower the cost of all other health insurance policies in the state.

Traditional health insurance with its low deductibles and co-pays are a way to pay small bills as well as protection from financial ruin. Studies show that in some instances it can cost more than $2 to pay for every $1 of a small bill. High-deductible plans are designed for people willing to take additional responsibility for small health care bills in exchange for lower premiums. If every citizen of the state had just a high-deductible policy the structural problems that cause double digit health care inflation would recede. People would assume responsibility and would seek cost-effective treatment instead of more treatment and the very best treatment offered.

Richard Abbott

Hancock