It's Not Wellmark, Chester, It's You

Many Iowans are up in arms over a proposed health insurance increase from the dominant insurer in the state, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The average 18 percent increase in premiums would affect roughly 80,000 Iowans with individual policies.

One thing we've learned over the past 3 years is that when bad news comes knocking at Iowa's door, Governor Chester Chet Culver is going to lurch (not leap) into action. In this case he sent a letter to Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss, expressing concern about the increase, and asked Voss to hire an independent actuary to review Wellmark's proposed increase. Wellmark has agreed to delay the increase for 30 days. Yea.

Let me interpret: We are going to spend tax dollars on a study to do work that we already spend tax dollars for within the department of insurance. Genius! Is it no wonder that when he was introduced to the crowd at the boys state basketball tournament game I attended last week, he was lustily booed.

To be sure, there is plenty of bipartisan brow-furrowing at Wellmark, including by republican Senator Chuck 'Don't Turn Off the Switch on Grandma' Grassley, who accepts plenty of insurance PAC money. It's all an act, and no study or hissy fit it going to help. They know that health care is basically a zero sum game that doesn't work out for most people. 20% of insureds are going to soak up 80% of the costs, which means 80% of the insureds are paying premiums to subsidize the other 20%.

However, there are some things that politicians could do to lower costs, like pass tort reform. An even better one is setting an example by living a healthy lifestyle, eating right and exercising..... which brings me back to Iowa's overweight governor, not to mention its cigarette-smoking first lady.

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Culver: If you want to improve health care costs and make Iowa a better state, how about you living a healthier lifestyle and being an exemplar for the state? That will do far more good than wasting our tax dollars on reactionary politics for a study that is going to do no good whatsoever. If you want to see why health care costs are rising, you need a mirror, not a study.