An Open Letter to the Editor and to our Representatives on Health Care

The “Medical Loss Ratio” is what tells investors how profitable an insurance company is. It measures the percentage of each dollar paid in on premiums is actually used for patients’ medical expenses. The average is around 75% (down from 95% in the 1990s).

The goal for profit industry is to maximize profit for investors. In other sectors of the economy this works well. However, with health insurance companies this means that rather than providing quality care to patients who need it, the business focuses on reducing the Medical loss ratio as far as possible. To satisfy Wall Street they actively seek to insure those who are statistically the healthiest while dumping those patients who are the most costly. Is this how health care should operate? With an insurance company bureaucrat standing between you and your doctor?

Health insurance companies systematically use preexisting conditions to deny coverage to patients who get sick and become a cost to the company. Over half of all bankruptcies are due to medical costs. Roughly one in six Americans are uninsured. Although the medical equipment and training in America are among the best in the world, this has not translated into a healthier society.

We must reform the system. Health care must be a guaranteed right provided to all, no bureaucrat standing between a patient and their doctor. Who can accomplish this? We the people can and must. Our elected representatives have the moral responsibility to represent the people’s interests.