Letter: Proposed insurance reform won’t work

Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998 | 11:37 a.m.

The insurance companies will be forced to raise the rates for the other clients, many of whom already can barely afford the present high costs. Many people will be forced to drop their coverage and rely on Medicaid to pay for their medical costs, after spending down their limited assets.

It would seem to be more reasonable to spread the costs of the high-risk individuals over the entire taxpayer base rather than the limited conscientious insurance participants.

Likewise, current do-good proposals to allow the suing of HMOs and providing mental health coverage will make health insurance even more unaffordable, while allowing the trial lawyers and psychiatrists to start feeding at the health trough.

If I were to require these added features, please allow me to shop around for them, rather than impose these added costs on everybody.

Henry H. Schmid

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