Insurance options

I am writing in regard to the UPMC-Highmark dispute, which seems to be more about money than patient care and makes one wonder what exactly is more important to these medical giants of the Pittsburgh region.

Aaron Billger, a Highmark spokesman, stated earlier this year that the company wants to come to an agreement with UPMC, “in the best interest of the community and our members. Everyone in the region — regardless of their health insurer — should have access to community assets like area hospitals that were built and are supported by taxpayer dollars and community giving.”

UPMC spokesman Paul Wood stated that his company feels otherwise. UPMC feels that an agreement between the two does not allow for competition. He stated, “It will instantly extinguish all insurance competition and all provider competition. Unless the government is going into the single-payer/ single-provider business, this model would allow all pricing and accessibility to be controlled by Highmark and UPMC. This is unacceptable to UPMC, and it should be unacceptable to the community.”

I can see where both companies thrive on competition; to them it just proves which company is the “better” company. Unfortunately UPMC does not realize there are many other insurance providers out there that are offered by companies to their employees. I for one work for a company at which neither UPMC nor Highmark is offered as a health care insurance provider, so there is more than enough competition for both companies in the area. In most cases individuals cannot just choose any insurance they want; they have to choose whichever is offered to them by their or their spouse’s employers.

Both companies need to set aside their differences and come to an agreement that can please both of them while still providing options as well as the best coverage available to those in the region. VIRGINIA PUGLIESEWILSON Squirrel Hill