Insurance reform

Health insurance companies say having a public option in a new health care bill will mark their demise. That is nonsense and fear-mongering. In fact, the public option will be the driving force behind health insurance reform. It will set the minimum standards for benefits, payment allowables, method of payment and data standardization. The insurance companies will need to meet or better these standards to attract customers. Rather than being forced out of business, they will become more profitable.

They will compete with the public option plan by offering enhanced benefits and lower premiums. In addition, they will open a new line of business -- selling insurance to supplement the public option, just as they now do with Medicare. They will probably contract with the government to process public option claims, just as they do with Medicare.

The problem is that the insurance companies don't want a portion of the pie, they want the entire pie. The present system provides no incentive for insurance companies to reform or change their bad habits. Corporate America will not do the right thing unless it is required to do so.

Our senators and representatives should support a public option.

Fred Austin

West Valley City