President’s plan may finally gives us a choice

Recently, Michael Steele of the Republican National Committee said  we shouldn't have anyone other than individuals and their doctors making medical decisions, and that the president's proposed system would have bureaucrats making those decisions. Apparently Steele's insurance is not of the HMO/PMO type. I don't know a single person with HMO or PMO coverage who hasn't had a bean counter in their insurance company veto a prescription written by a doctor or have some kind of treatment or test disallowed because of cost.

Insurance companies have somewhat of a monopoly. I've heard that one major insurance company covers about 80 percent of Iowans. Steele's party is a proponent of competition in the marketplace. If a public option brings competition that the private sector does not provide, how can that be a bad thing?

The president's proposal simply gives us the choice of commercial or government insurance and allows those without coverage to get coverage. Insurance companies will be forced to compete and maybe end up giving us better service and lower rates.

Joseph T. Michalec, Sr.

Cedar Rapids