Misinformation and fear muddy healthcare debate

BASED ON responses in Saturday's Letters to the Editor ("Healthcare reform: high deductibles and the low road") and some of the voices in the news, one could well think that the health insurance products endorsed by the Connector had only out-of-pocket deductibles available to low-income subscribers for whom these plans were designed. That is untrue, and dangerous to perpetuate as fact. Several of the plans selected by the board of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority offer unlimited office visits subject to only a copayment .

There must be a massive education effort to ensure that people understand what is available to them in order to make the best choices for themselves and their families, but it can be accomplished. My concern is that the selective use of information looks to defeat a historic effort and potentially paralyze the very individuals that could benefit the most from coverage because they might think, "Why bother, it is still out of reach."

I can assure the letter writers that the Connector and all the not-for-profit health plans chosen worked in a good faith manner to make coverage as affordable as possible with as much choice as possible.

JAMES ROOSEVELT JR.
Chairman
Massachusetts Association of Health Plans
Boston