Dirigo landmark insurance legislation

Recent comments made in articles published by the Bangor Daily News have been critical of the Dirigo Health plan initiated by Gov. John Baldacci and the Legislature earlier this year. As always, the problem with developing a plan is that it becomes an inviting target for those who have developed none.

The Dirigo plan is the first state-initiated plan to attempt to provide decent and affordable health care for the un- and under-insured people of the state of Maine, an attempt to put Maine first. The willingness of small business people in Maine to participate in the program shows their desire to make the plan work, and those

who benefit most, the employees of Maine’s small businesses, are thankful for the vision and commitment present in the governor’s office that led to the plan becoming a reality.

The need for such a plan is clearly seen in the demand for DirigoChoice, which Anthem, the plan administrator, indicates is strong. After just eight months, DirigoChoice health insurance has enrolled 8,000 Mainers, including 2,000 businesses – helping them afford good-quality health care coverage. Anthem says this enrollment rate is “significantly higher than other new health insurance programs.” The demand has been high enough for Anthem to open the program to all interested Mainers on Jan. 1.

As a small business owner, the premiums I pay to provide adequate health insurance for my employees represent a significant cost to the business. However, an even higher cost would be the inability to attract and retain high-quality people. These are the same people who pay taxes, eat in restaurants and buy cars in Maine. They are also softball coaches, volunteers at festivals and canoeists on the Kenduskeag Stream in April. Putting Maine first attracts enthusiastic and competent employees and invigorates the whole state. We should be trying everything we can to provide them with quality health insurance.

Recently, articles appearing in the BDN have attacked Dirigo. Those attacking the plan offer no plan of their own, no help for those burdened by high health care costs, no solutions to the complex problems in health care today. Instead, in rhetoric redolent with partisanship, there are attacks on the governor’s office. If the purpose of the criticism is to provide a viable alternative to Dirigo, fine, let’s hear it. Otherwise, stand aside, because unhelpful carping will only get in the way of constructive efforts to solve difficult problems.

As with any ambitious undertaking, adjustments will need to be made. No one understands that any better than someone who runs a business. It will take some time

to make the program run efficiently. Allocation of the various funding sources will have to be worked out to make sure that costs and savings are distributed fairly to the state and

the insurance industry. The Legis-lature’s working group is addressing that right now.

There are competent and conscientious people dedicated to making this program work. They are working to allow business people to provide health care for valued employees, and to allow those employees quality health care for themselves and their families.

Gov. Baldacci and the Legislature have a plan, one that holds the promise of controlling costs and providing quality health care. The plan deserves our support. Dirigo Health is more than health insurance. The plan has been established to reduce health care costs for those of us who pay premiums, and to improve the quality and availability of health care for the people of Maine.

There are many compelling reasons why Gov. Baldacci and the Legislature should continue to support this landmark health care reform. We have the chance to do something really important here, to live up to the pledge to fight for affordable healthcare available to all. Maine can lead the way.

Ken Rozeboom has a small feed ingredients trading business with its office in Bangor and has been enrolled in the DirigoChoice program since its inception.