There is no silver bullet solution that will create an optimal health insurance market. Though the Governor forbade double digit rate increases, it s unlikely to have an effect. He has to decide whether to continue the current path of health insurance regulation that is driving up costs. The alternative is to change state policy to empower patients to make cost effective, medically appropriate treatment decisions, increase cost and quality competition to the market, adequately fund Medicaid, and reduce health care litigation costs. This will improve product offerings and bring more products choices to consumers.
Health care is personal.
It s about your doctor, your hospital, your health insurance, what your willing to pay and free markets that allow you to measure the outcome and not some state bureaucracy that will regulate choices. If Vermont is serious about real health reform, it should look to market-based solutions, not more state control. Contributing to this increase are state mandates and regulations on health insurance for small employers and individuals that have increased the number of uninsured. The Governor may want to stem the tide of increases, but his very own policies have exacerbated this problem.