YOUR COMMENTS

Just to clarify for Lee Quandt, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts has no affiliation with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield... so you're blaming Anthem for a completely different company's CEO's bonus... or re-read your post, it doesn't make sense. Anthem NorthEast (CT,ME,NH) (and most other insurers) operate on a less than 3% profit margin... do the research...
Mandates in some cases increase rates, and in ohers ensure access to care.
- Mary Byron, South Portland, ME

Pardon the pun, but Amy you certainly are shortsighted. Radical change occurs in societies out of the experience of its members. Senator Clegg is gusty and selfless to share his personal experience to improve the lives of others. As an RN, I witness the escalating costs of chronic conditions and the suffering caused by these conditions on a daily basis. Preventative medicine saves lives and money. You have my support Senator.
- Barbara, Northfield

Hey, Senator Clegg! I can't see so well without glasses. How about a mandate to cover lasik, too!

Oh, what, that doesn't affect you? Huh!
- Amy Senet, Manchester

I had gastric bypass surgery last May after struggling with my weight for 40 years. I was diabetic, had high blood pressure, and suffered with horrible osteoarthritis in my lower back and knees. Without a doubt, had I not had the surgery within a very few years I would have been unable to work and dependent on disability and the government to take care of me. I had been on every diet known to man and lost hundreds, if not thousands of pounds over four decades. No one can say I had no will power - I used to smoke two packs a day for 20 years and quit that cold turkey one weekend. Within two months of having the bypass, I was no longer diabetic or hypertensive. I've lost 130 pounds, feel great, and have just accepted a new job in the beautiful mountains of Vermont. I thank God I had the means to pay the $30,000 my surgery cost as Anthem wouldn't cover it. Wake up, people. Extreme obesity is a cruel disease and those that suffer from it need all the help surgeons can provide to survive it and become well.
- Judith Glidden, North Berwick/Maine

Plaudits to Senator Clegg! As a provider of long term care services for the elderly and adult disabled population I see the health care dollars expended as a result symptom by symptom treatment. There is a disconnect to treatment of the cause or prevention in our current system which leads to chronic conditions and the resulting suffering as well. Contrary to what seems to be a foregone conclusion, insurance reform does not always result in premium increases. Senator Clegg’s bill is a common sense solution, which encourages the insurance companies to do what they are collecting premiums for, providing coverage to the insured for medical care. The procedure addressed in the bill eliminates the cause of a problem which results in very costly utilization later on. He deserves to be commended for his efforts to spare many citizens from needless long term pain and suffering.
- Carolyn, Concord, NH

I beleive that our good Senator is attempting to revise the Insurance company provisions so that preventative treatments for morbid obesity can be incorporated into treatment protocols as a "viable option" determined by the physician and patient. Having led several companies and determining insurance converages for employees, often the insurers preferred path is to eliminate preventative care treatments entirely. As for bottom line advocates my hope is that they consider pre-emptive care equal to chonic illness treatment. Senator Clegg's personal ephiphany and dramatic weight loss is admirable.....the fact that he has had the courage of his convictions to introduce legislation to extend this potential option to others should be applauded.
- Kerry, Sanbornton

Please stop whining about mandates. Ma. health insurance premiums are lower than NH and they provide most of the services NH doesn't. Ask if it true that a large NH insurance carrier's CEO got a million $ bonus, ask if it is true that Anthem in MA CEO was given about a $15 million retirment bonus and under investigation by the MA AG's Office. Where do you think this "bonus" money comes from a health insurance bake sale? It comes for your and my health insurnace premiums. Bariatric surgery is a proven cost saving measure for those who can't lose weight by conventional means. Stop blaming all the increases on mandates and think greed.
- Lee Quandt, Exeter

Senator Clegg is right. For far too long the insurance companies have made short term profit decisions to benefit themselves, not the public and not its customers. The past Federal investigations into insurance company practices revealed that insurance claim managers get bonuses if they exceed their target of denying claims. I have a friend in his early thirties who needed a liver transplant due to severe diabetes. The option for replacing the spleen also came up as the dead donor's spleen was also compatible which would have solved the diabetes problem for my friend. Insurance company said no to the spleen replacement, so now we all continue to help pay for his diabetes treatment and future medical problems the rest of his life through our insurance premiums. I say Senator Clegg understands the problem and should be supported for doing the right thing. Mandates are sometimes necessary to correct an industry wrong.
- Mike Asselin, Hebron

Obesity, specifically morbid obesity is a multifacited disease. Though we believe the simple solution is to lose weight without significant surgical intervention, the weight itself impedes the ability to exercise without back pain, joint pain or even a healthy self esteem. Many clients who seek weight loss have tried the mainstream diets, but need the tool to help them keep the weight off long term. Maybe they can tread water, but not swim. Eating unhealthy or 'fattening' foods may not only be by choice. Many of the less healthy or unhealthy choices are signficantly less expensive. With a strapped financial situation, families may not have a choice as to what they can afford to eat. What is affordable may not support a healthy weight. Many health insurance companies mandate coverage of diabetes, a disease where in Type 2 diabetes, 83% is resolved, but overall 90 % is improved with weight loss surgery. (JAMA 2004:292:1724-1737) Diabetes, Type II is specifically exacerbated by excess weight. Comorbid conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea are also improved or resolved. With weight loss, many are able to have a better quality of life, less medications translating into less expense for the insurance company while lessening their own financial burden. People who are healthier require less hospitalizations, less physician visits, which translates hopefully into lower costs for us as the consumer. It makes sense to treat the whole disease, not just the comorbid conditions associated with it.
Coverage of the surgery alone should not be the only goal. Maintaining one's health long term, including education on healthy eating habits, exercise as well as psychological intervention should be inclusive in the overall treatment both pre and post surgery by trained professionals.
- Natalie E, MA

What about the people who have complications from the surgery, like Charlie Weis, and run up medical costs in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars? Do they save money as well? What about the people who die from the surgery and cost millions in legal claims? Do they save money? These insurance companies aren't stupid, you know. If this really was a big savings, they'd be pushing people to get the surgery.
- Glen, Manchester

Jeff, exactly right - Mandates, as usual, benefit the very few. In this case, as most these days, the benifits go to the very rich. The government mandates that we not bargain with drug companies, the dramatic increase in no bid contracts, earmarks, we give bonuses to Haliburton, Booz Allen Hamilton, KBR, agricultural subsidies. It mandates that we forgive wiretaps on American citizens and on and on. Our government also mandates that we have fair elections, clean air and water, free speech, safe food, and hopefully soon universal health care. For which would you rather pay? I like getting something for my outrageous tax dollars. I'd rather pay for Clegg's surgery than his treatment for diabetes, hip replacement etc. down the line. Consider what he says. He's one of your guys and also knows something about how this system works. Find the Arnesen interview of Clegg at Political Chowder, she is stunned.
- Robert, Deerfield

Bob, wouldn't it be nice if could have the government protect us from ourselves for every little thing we do that may be harmfull to us. I use to think that was a democrat ideal but I guess now in NH to be elected republicans need to act like democrats.

If you have a problem because you are fat I have a solution, eat less. Yup having a smaller stomach does nothing more than that Bob. Sound harsh? well mabe a loved one should have told you that.repeatedly.

Now after pushing this foolish bill you expect REAL republicans to vote for you for congress? Please, if you can't even control your cravings for food what else will you not be able to think clearly on. This is the real world with real wars, real terrorist. We can't trust someone who does not even know how to eat in Washington.
- Brian, Laconia

Sen. Clegg appears to have been sitting under a rock for several years. Many insurance companies offer coverage but it is not always coverage that group insurance offer as many groups do not wish to pay extra for it. And of course, will the State accept its own mandate for it's insurance coverage? It usually does not. I do not argue that obeisty is a national epideic and that the surgery in question can be one of the solutions, but insurance companies are offering other effective programs and incentives to keep weight off or help people reduce weight with out the very serious risks of surgery. Not everyone is a good candidate for surgery, will the legislation mandate that poor candidates recieve the surgery anyway? Mandates, as usual, benefit the very few while costing everyone else a lot, and making a few dim witted legislators feel better about themselves.
- Jeff, Goffstown

Now that so called Republican Sen. Clegg is running for a bigger and more powerful office than his current $100 a year position, he feels that he has to jump on the insurance mandates bandwagon. The less that the government injects itself into any business, the better off we are, and the more of our own money we get to keep. Go back to Hudson Mr. Clegg and give up politics. We already have enough progressive Republicans.
- Pete, Keene

Insurance companies might or might not find it in their best interest to pay for weight loss, rather than pay for the effects of obesity. Their actuaries will provide the hard numbers, and their stockholders and boards of directors will decide what is best for their companies.

Sometimes incurring additional expense is worth it, if it improves the bottom line by keeping customers. Sometimes it's not. That's a business decision, not a political one. When politicians dictate corporate policy, they hurt consumers by increasing costs.

Sen. Clegg is welcome to voice his opinion about what he would do if he ran an insurance company. I suggest he limit himself to the bully pulpit, rather than imposing mandates that will hurt insurance customers through increased costs.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with any insurance company, except as a customer. My insurance company regularly sends newsletters with health maintenance and wellness tips. They offer a 24 hour hotline where registered nurses advise customers about the best way to seek treatment.

I pay good money for my insurance. I am concerned about their bottom line, because it affects mine. If Sen. Clegg's proposal passes, either my insurance rates go up, or the services I receive go down.

Say "no" to mandates.
- Kevin, Lancaster