Letter to the Editor: Information from Congressman McDermott is mostly untrue

To the Editor:

I usually do not respond to news articles and the like, but in this case, the letter you printed by Congressman Jim McDermott is, mostly, well …. untrue at best, deceptive at worst. I cannot believe how our elected representatives in Washington DC do not understand their own Health Care Bill they passed, which just two weeks ago Congress and their staff exempted themselves from quietly. Or, perhaps they do understand, which is why they exempted themselves from it.

Here are some of the errors in his letter:

1.   "If you already have coverage you like, you don't have to change it" Completely untrue.  ALL current Lifewise, Premera, Group Health, Regence and Assurant, etc. individual plans in the market today in Washington are ending as of December 31st, to be replaced by all new plans starting January 1st.  Unless you have one of a few of "Grandfathered" plans from prior to 2010, your plan will go away, even if you want to keep it!

Your Plan from your employer will be changing as well if your small employer currently purchases coverage through a business Association Health Plan. These plans currently can provide discounted rates for employers who have Healthy employees. However, giving discounts to small "Healthy" employer groups in Washington is now no longer allowed due to the law starting in 2014.

3.  That Washington Insurance Carriers in the individual market “have refunded families an average rebate of $499” is totally untrue. This is backed up by our own Insurance Commissioner's data. No Washington Insurance companies have issued rebates for Individual policies in Washington, not one!

4.  There are ZERO “Platinum” level (the best level of coverage) plans offered here in the Washington Exchange as Congressman McDermott mentions.

5.  There are only four private companies offering plans in the Health Exchange here in Washington, Premera and Lifewise (those are actually the same company and plans), Group Health and Bridgespan. If you want more choices, you have to buy your plan OUTSIDE of the Exchange where there are more carriers, and thus more choice of plans and price.

Mr. McDermott is correct that individuals with low incomes, (under roughly $45K for single person) will receive subsidies when they purchase a plan in the Exchange. It is greatly disappointing to see that the rest of his information is not even close to accurate.

Jeff Lindstrom

Shoreline