Editor:

There have been a number of letters regarding government. Is it working for us? Can I take on health insurance companies regarding healthcare premiums?

I believe government is working for us in this area. Recently, Wisconsin was awarded nearly $4 million by the Federal government under the Affordable Care Act (health insurance reform-Obamacare) to fight higher health insurance premiums. Under the law, if an insurance company raises premiums by more than 10 percent, the state can use these dollars to do a thorough investigation and make the insurance company publicly justify their increases, bringing transparency to the process and lowering cost for families. In Arkansas, where there was a pilot done, the insurance commissioner was able to negotiate a lower rate for 90,000 people. In North Carolina, $14.5 million was saved for policyholders after the commissioner denied a huge rate increase from an insurance company.

Big insurance companies need accountability, and the health insurance reform bill will make it possible for Wisconsin to protect families from pocket-gouging increases. Support this effort since we can’t do it by ourselves.

Richard Laddusire, Rhinelander