Insuring Georgia's Uninsured

One of the biggest challenges facing Georgia's next Insurance Commissioner is finding a way to insure the 1.7 million Georgians without health insurance, and finding ways to cut in the $6.6 billion negative impact these uninsured have on Georgia's economy.  With innovative ideas, and by working with insurance companies through free market and free enterprise, I believe we can find ways to insure about one-third of these people. By insuring about 500,000 of the 1.7 million, it would mean a $2 billion economic boost to Georgia's economy.  This may include coming up with incentives to encourage the young and healthy to purchase insurance now.  Georgia has been a front-runner in Health Savings Accounts, which could also be one solution to help the uninsured become insured.

There is talk of selling health insurance across state lines, and frankly this sounds like a possible solution to inserting competition and thus lowering rates.

However, I urge caution.  We must make sure that whatever step we take, Georgia's Insurance Commissioner will have the proper authority to protect Georgia's citizens. And we must make sure that any company that sells in Georgia is part of a Guarantee Association.  Out of state companies can already sell in Georgia, if they get a license in the state. If they don't want to do this, you have to wonder what they are trying to sell us in the first place.  One option is to identify states with similar laws and regulations, and form an alliance with these states.  Health insurance is a complex issue, but our problems can be solved.  We just have to look for new and innovative ways to solve the issues.