Affordable insurance serves a market

IT'S A nice-sounding idea: Ban health insurance that lacks comprehensive coverage. Defined-benefit plans, one activist says, should "never hit the market" ("Low-cost insurer leaves some with bills and a bitter taste," Business, Oct. 31).

That's like requiring everybody to drive a Lexus. Trouble is, not everyone can afford Lexus-style health insurance. More than 1 million insurance customers choose HealthMarkets companies because we offer value, flexibility, and affordable rates.

The Globe portrayed HealthMarkets as responding to a customer issue because, according to the customer, we feared "really bad press." Our records show the customer never brought her complaint to the company. Once informed by the paper, we worked to resolve the issue. It was the right thing to do.

We work to ensure our customers fully understand the products they buy. We contact every new customer who purchases a defined-benefit policy to review selections. We have made approximately 160,000 benefit confirmation calls since 2005.

Because of the high cost of comprehensive insurance, many people face the difficult choice between limited coverage and no coverage at all.

The costs are especially high for individuals, small businesses, and the self-employed-market we have served proudly for more than 20 years.

WILLIAM J. GEDWED
President and CEO
HealthMarkets
North Richland Hills, Texas