STATES' HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS WON'T CURB COSTS

New plans in Massachusetts and California to reduce the cost of health insurance will do the opposite ("States take on national health insurance crisis," Our view, Health care reform debate, Tuesday).

When politicians "mandate" something, they cannot resist meddling with and overregulating the laws we will be forced to obey. Requiring all insurance policies in California to pay for "wellness" care, such as everyone's gym memberships, will not reduce insurance premiums. A new tax on physicians and hospitals will not curb the cost of health care.

These proposals are just another case of the growth of government making things worse in the name of making them better.

Richard E. Ralston, executive director, Americans for Free Choice in Medicine, Newport Beach, Calif.

Taxpayers will foot bill

USA TODAY's article "Schwarzenegger proposes health plan" outlines another liberal, socialist program in California that requires those who work and pay taxes, the middle class, to support those who don't (News, Jan. 9).

Ostensibly, the program will operate with, as USA TODAY says, "the state's doctors, hospitals, insurers, taxpayers and employers all helping pay for it" -- as though each group had respective pockets. No doubt, costs will be passed down to the only group shouldering the burden -- taxpayers.

The article observes that the plan may have "ripple effects" across the nation. In other words, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, seen as a charismatic, hard-working moderate, is the one pushing just another national social boondoggle. This way, it doesn't have to be proposed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., or Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., viewed by many as "tax-and-spend liberals."

Schwarzenegger said, "We can make health care more affordable, accessible and equitable for everyone." Really? Does that include all illegal aliens?

He also says people may be rewarded for living healthy lifestyles. Why isn't this already the case? Why must they accept reforms before they see these rewards?

Yet another twist: Insurers won't be able to turn away applicants because of health problems. Apparently, people who have made poor choices that resulted in chronic, long-term diseases would be supported by more responsible insured people.

Great. Just what we need: another program where those who work, pay taxes and take care of themselves pay for those who don't.

Timothy Brown

Cincinnati

(c) USA TODAY, 2007