This letter is in response to your July 7, 2014 letter, titled, “An Important Update about Harrison and Regence BlueShield Insurance.”

I am disappointed that those of you at the adults’ table are unable to decide how to divide up the pie that we rate payers and patients are funding.  Not being privy to the negotiations or even knowledgeable of what would be equitable in such negotiations, I am left only with your letter to guide my thoughts.

It is a cheap letter as propaganda goes. I am certain this went through your mind as you composed it. Your staff did not discourage its mailing, so I will assume this type of maneuver is inherent to the Harrison/Franciscan culture.

That said, I am not quite fond of health insurers either, but you and I can both benefit from them.  I urge you to do some work and make your own deal. The tact to get public sentiment was fine for the Harrison workers in negotiating for better wages… they are our neighbors, Franciscan and Regence are not.

Gobbling up other health concerns is costly business, but I am not on your side.  Many in the Kitsap community believe The Doctor’s Clinic will be Franciscan’s final step in limiting our choice of health care providers. Supporting your efforts in negotiating with Regence is a financial contribution to that end.

In your letter you encourage people to talk to their employers about being “able to hold a special ‘open enrollment’ and allow you to switch to another insurance provider…”

Perhaps you should have said, “Talk to your employer about adding Group Health Cooperative to your health care choices.” If your employer is not large enough to have multiple options, have them at least consider GHC.”

I am fortunate to have options with my employer. If Harrison and Regence do not come to terms, I am bailing. I only hope GHC can handle the load when all those others follow during this October’s open enrollment season.

John White

Unincorporated Kitsap Resident

(Not affiliated with GHC)