INSURANCE EXCHANGE

Keep federal goons away

Whether we like it or not, we do not have to wait for the federal government to once again taint our lives with its one-size-fits-all mentality. We have wasted time in setting up a state insurance exchange hoping that the Supreme Court would knock down the stupid and crippling Obamacare. We can wait and let the feds bring us an insurance exchange, or we can move forward and get one done here in Idaho on our terms.

Time is short. We have to move quickly or we lose the chance to do something for our state by ourselves. I, for one, do not trust the feds. I do not believe for a second that they have our best interests in mind. They have power and want control of our insurance.

I support the efforts of those who are working to get a state insurance exchange set up before the deadline when the feds take control.

Lend your support to the cause. Move quickly and let’s get our insurance exchange set up now and let the federal goons do their thing elsewhere.

JOHN D. BLAISDELL, DDS, Caldwell

A state exchange is best for Idaho consumers

By Nov. 16, Gov. Butch Otter must decide the future of Idaho health care. Under the Affordable Care Act, I hope he chooses a state-based insurance exchange.

Health insurance exchanges are simply online marketplaces. This is not new and is available currently for anyone to purchase insurance online. Exchanges compare health plans, providing information on competitive plans. Experience shows, however, that people typically purchase by price, not fully understanding benefits or exclusions.

As a broker, I have come to know clients personally, providing plan benefit education to meet financial needs. Federally run health insurance exchanges push one-size-fits-all ideas onto Idaho and put local insurance agencies and thousands of Idaho jobs at risk by not allowing brokers to assist clients inside the exchange. Most are self-employed and will not be counted by politicians. We will not qualify for unemployment benefits to protect our family financially or contribute to the local economy until other work can be obtained.

Taking insurance regulation out of state is wrong! Questions and complaints will go through Washington rather than coordinating with Idaho’s qualified licensed brokers who provide caring service.

As a member of Idaho Health Exchange Alliance, I strongly support an Idaho health insurance exchange.

www.keepitinidaho.com

DAVID MARSH, Marsh & Associates, Meridian

Let’s control our destiny

As two of the partners at Myriad Benefits LLC, we face many responsibilities and constantly strive to look out for the interests of our clients and employees. The issue we face now is the implementation of the health insurance exchanges mandated by the Affordable Care Act.

Each state has three options for an exchange: a federally run program, partnership model, or a state-run insurance exchange where Idaho is in charge. If our state does nothing by Nov. 16, we will have a federal exchange imposed upon us and lose our regulatory authority.

However, if Idaho opts for a state-run exchange program, we will have an opportunity to control our own destiny. Independent agents will assist their clients by providing options from both in and out of the exchange. Idaho would manage our preferences toward small government, provide cost-effective options for employers and individuals and control insurance locally.

CARY HATTABAUGH AND DEREK STEPHENSON, Myriad Benefits LLC, Meridian

A critical deadline looms

Idaho has a critical choice to make and the deadline is looming.

By Nov. 16, under the Affordable Care Act, states must decide whether they’ll participate in a state-run health exchange, partnership model, or default to a federally controlled exchange.

Health insurance exchanges are online marketplaces, designed like travel sites that allow for health plan comparisons side by side. This means transparent information and competitive plans.

Those of us who live in this great state know Idaho has unique needs. Idaho has small government, fiscally prudent ideas and some of the lowest insurance costs in the nation.

Being an insurance provider in Boise and specifically tailoring plans means I have come to know my clients personally. Not only would a federally run exchange push one-size-fits-all ideas onto Idaho, but it could put local insurance agencies and thousands of jobs at risk.

SUE BOSWELL, Christensen & Associates Insurance, Boise

CUBAN CRISIS

Compromise can save lives

I lived in Mountain Home during the Cuban Missile Crisis. My father worked at the nearby Titan missile sites. I remember being frightened at the thought of being vaporized by a Soviet missile. At the 50th anniversary of the zenith of the cold war confrontation between the U.S. and the USSR, it is important to separate truth from myth.

President Kennedy drew a red line, refused to budge, and Nikita Khrushchev, facing American exceptional resolve, backed down. It’s a nice story, and politicians from Benjamin Netanyahu to George W. Bush have cited it as an example of the limits of diplomacy and the strength of noncompromising threat. The tea party and the Republican legislators in D.C. see compromise as weakness, and will point to JFK’s steadfastness. Negotiations and deal-making are for wimps.

Well, it didn’t happen that way. There were negotiations. The U.S. agreed to pull missiles from Turkey and Italy if the Soviets would pull theirs out of Cuba. These facts were secret for decades. Nobody blinked or backed down; they made a deal. They soon installed a hotline for more direct communication and started work on nuclear nonproliferation treaties. Negotiation and compromise can, and have, saved lives.

CALVIN VINCENT WEAVER, Boise

MORMON TEMPLE

Priorities on display

The remodeling of the Boise LDS temple speaks volumes about the priorities of the Mormon Church and organized religion in general. After all, materialism is a true calling of God, isn’t it? Have a personal relationship with God and you will be fine. No need to succumb to the “give me ‘your’ money and hear ‘my’ opinion” rhetoric associated with those who hold themselves above you.

KEN HOBBY, Mountain Home

PROPERTY TAXES

Homeowners need relief

Help, I need relief and Rolaids will not help.

I live in Boise and can’t afford to pay my property taxes. They are three times higher than when I lived in California with Prop 13. We need a Prop 13 in Idaho. I have no kids in school and my grandkids are in private school. Why am I paying high property taxes?

Why should property owners be responsible for public schools? I would think parents should pay the bill. When parents shift the cost to property owners, it gets out of hand. If large families had to pay more than smaller families it would be self-controlling.

ROBERT ROILE, Boise