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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Back in December, I wrote an article entitled “Future uncertain for state's Basic Health Plan.” In the article, I discussed the pitfalls of a government-run health care program, noting that Washington's Basic Health Plan has become a costly albatross and never reached its intended goal of reducing the 11 percent of those uninsured in our state. You can read the article by clicking here.
Now comes word from state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kriedler that the financial picture for the state's public-employee health insurance programs is so bleak that if it were a private company he would force the state Health Care Authority into receivership. I invite you to read that story, which appeared on Washington State Wire.com by clicking here.
Those convinced that government can do a better job than the private sector in offering and managing health insurance only need to look no farther than Washington's Basic Health Plan and the state's public-employee health programs to see that is not the case.
So how do we make health care more affordable and more accessible for the uninsured?
In our House Republican “Made in Washington” jobs plan, we outline 10 solutions to reform our state's health care system and achieve the goal of affordable, accessible health insurance for all. I invite you to read my article on our health-care reform plan by clicking here.
When it comes to deciding whether government should take over our health care system, I think we should keep in mind the words of Ronald Reagan: “Public servants say, always with the best of intentions, “What greater service we could render if only we had a little more money and a little more power.” But the truth is that outside of its legitimate function, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector.”
As always, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts, ideas, questions and concerns. Please click here to contact my office through our e-mail service.
In your service,
Dan Kristiansen
