The U.S. uses insurance to provide healthcare. As a business model, insurance protects the insured against loss due to rare risk. It is unlikely my house will burn down; I buy insurance to protect myself from that rare risk.

Health problems are not rare. Health matters affect all of us all of the time: women get pregnant, children get sick, we can break a leg, and all of us need preventive care, glasses, testing, etc.  

The insurance business model must minimize risk, otherwise it cannot make a profit. We allow the insurance companies wiggle room to manage risk by denying and delaying payment, rejecting high-risk people, reducing benefits and “cream skimming.” Because this is our health coverage policy, we accept that many of us are left “bare.” The insurance business model is a wrong fit.

Nonprofit insurance companies have a humanitarian mission but are stuck with the same business model. The more they care, the more likely they are to fail.

Health is a public good. It should not be in the private sector. Health should be accessible to all regardless of ability to pay, chronic illness or ZIP code. A national health plan makes sense, spreads risk and is fair to everyone.

We criticize national health in other countries because non-emergent care may be slow. Standing in line for our healthcare may be frustrating. Dying because you couldn’t get healthcare is a tragedy.

Jo Ann Myers
Waldoboro