USA Today Letter to the Editor: Collaborate on Health Exchanges

Collaborate on health exchanges An editorial debate in USA TODAY last week discussed whether states or the federal government should create health care exchanges ("Don't trust states to create health care exchanges," Our view, Medical legislation debate, Jan. 4).

 

The delayed timing for implementing the exchanges, also discussed, is of serious concern. Not only does the technology to create exchanges already exist and function soundly today, but waiting until the end of 2013 to open exchanges also would be unbearable to the uninsured in need of health coverage, like a life preserver that's just out of reach.

 

Further, the U.S., with so many diverse communities and populations, requires many paths to coverage beyond exchanges, including those that are online, in person, and available through affinity programs, schools, community centers, churches, insurance brokers and agents. No single approach serves everyone's needs. Imagine how much less effective the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would be if it only allowed food stamps to be redeemed at one chain of grocery stores. Far fewer people would utilize the program, leaving millions of Americans hungry.

 

A collaborative, all-hands-on-deck approach to enrollment will help more Americans enroll quickly, thus achieving Congress' and the president's promise of health care reform: significantly reducing the number of uninsured Americans.

 

We look forward to working with Congress to help provide choice and access to the millions of Americans who need to find and secure medical coverage.