Maine Dirigo Health February 2006 press action

I attended a press event and legislative hearing in Augusta concerning the fledging DirigoChoice health insurance program. We are enrolled in this program and consider it vital not only to our own continued health, but to that of the entire state.

The Maine People’s Alliance is a pro-Dirigo grassroots organization. I am a member. The 2006 press event was held for the purpose of releasing the results of a small experiential study concerning how the private contractor–the insurance giant Anthem, now responsible for marketing and servicing Dirigo for the state of Maine–is meeting its responsibilities for Dirigo. It’s a checkered report. The situation as described by MPA and supporters is that Anthem is the “fox in the henhouse” where Dirigo is concerned.

This podcast is audio from the Tuesday Maine People’s Alliance (MPA) “FOX IN THE HENHOUSE” press action at the State House in Augusta, Maine.

Additional information is posted at Deep Blade Journal and from MPA

Below is my statement given at the press event and in testimony in support of LD 1845 before the Maine State Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and Financial Services.

20 min; 5 MB; 32 kbps mp3; download link here ->

My name is Eric Olson and I am a freelance writer and editor from Veazie. After going without health insurance for over three years, my wife and I are now enrolled in the DirigoChoice program.

We love to be in Maine. Our family and friends are here. Running our own business working on mathematics and science textbooks for major educational publishers is a good life. Millions of students have benefited from our work in books they use in school. That is very satisfying. But while our financial life sometimes enjoys very good periods, that is not always the case. Some recent years, the publishing business has been rather lean, especially the time three years ago when our largest client went under owing us thousands of dollars.

Keeping health insurance through these years was just impossible. We looked at plans that were going to cost around $300 more per month than our mortgage payment. All that time, we heard Dirigo might be coming and hoped it would be more affordable.

Then last year, Dirigo became available. We immediately called Anthem to get a quote. We were suspicious that the people who opposed the plan now were servicing it. Now, I’m not going to say our experience getting signed up was particularly bad. But, I will say that when the initial quote of over $750 per month looked quite expensive, the Anthem rep did try to steer us toward an obviously inferior high-deductible plan from their own lines before any discussion that a discount might be possible.

It turned out we qualified for a 40% discount! Still a significant monthly commitment for us, but the very best price we’d seen for decent coverage including lower-priced doctor visits, preventive care, and prescription coverage!

And it’s a good thing we got Dirigo. After getting a regular physician for the first time in about a couple decades, I found out I have potentially-serious health conditions that require treatment. Without Dirigo, I never would have gone in for any of the exams and tests I’ve had that may well be what saves my life in the next few months.

I can’t thank enough Governor Baldacci and everyone who supports this affordable health insurance program. If others are being turned away because Anthem has an political agenda, that would be a real shame. Furthermore I’m nonplused when I hear politicians running against Dirigo. It just sounds crazy that this program that is helping me so much should be called by these politicians a “failure” that should “whither away.”

What I say is Dirigo should be improved and promoted the way it deserves to be. If LD 1845 ensures that Dirigo Health will continue to be a success, than I support it whole-heartedly and urge legislators to pass it.

Update (June 2007): While LD 1845 failed in 2006, the agency that runs Dirigo did receive the right to self-insure in 2007. But as THIS article points out, funding is strapped and an enrollment cap is in the offing.