Dear Editor:
As a Santa Monica resident and Independent Insurance Agent, I write to express objection to creation, passage, and adoption of a proposed Public Option, a public plan contrary, unfavorable, and not in the best interest of the public.
In reality, passage, adoption, and implementation of a “public option” shifts health care costs to private payers. In addition, deterioriation and possible implementation of private insurance is a result and potential unintended consequence of action being considered by the President.
Paying less for health care and health care service does not mean the service costs less. Healthcare providers don’t accept what the government gives. One can only look to the number of physicians who don’t accept assignment under Medicare. Healthcare providers shift unpaid costs to private payers as a matter of protection and financial necessity.
Private insurers must cover their costs and maintain adequate reserves to pay claims under law.
Under a public option, private insurers are forced to raise premiums to compensate for and offset cost shifting and result in private insurance becoming more expensive.
A public plan has the potential to be priced below true costs and operate at a loss or deficit. Thus, more and more Americans would go for a cheap public plan.
If the Public Plan uses Medicare payment formulas for reimbursement as is being considered, the Lewin Group in an April, 2009 report estimates that 131 million people would enroll in the public plan. On the other hand, the number of people with private insurance would decline by 119 million.
Thus, the Public Option may become the only option which I believe is poor public policy and not in our best interests.
Thanks for the opportunity to express my views on this important matter of legislation and public policy.
Robert Donin
Santa Moncia, Ca
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Dear Editor,
Yes, the landlords have leased their spaces quickly to nails salons and cellular phone stores. Part of the charm of Main Street “was” its eclectic mix of interesting little shops and cool bars and restaurants. Now every second or third space is a nail salon. The committee needs to be more discerning and creative with respect to how it rents on Main Street. While those businesses create an initial rental revenue stream, in the long term you will lose the locals and eventually the tourists.
That is of course unless they need a cell phone or manicure.
Abby
wcw.amm@gmail.com
Santa Monica (resident)
