Readers React: Anthem-Cigna merger and single-payer health insurance

To the editor: So we’re on the way to a single-payer healthcare system after all. The only problem is that the single payer will not be an efficient, consumer-oriented entity like Medicare but will instead be a profit-driven, consumer-be-damned business like Anthem Inc., which plans to buy rival Cigna Corp. in a $54-billion deal. (“Anthem to buy Cigna for $54 billion, creating nation’s largest insurer,” July 24)

Is this really the way for us to deal with the reality of our healthcare crisis?

Russell Doolittle, La Jolla

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To the editor: n opinion written by Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. informed us that the Obamacare individual mandate was legal under Congress’ constitutional authority to tax.

However, the fees paid by consumers for insurance do not go to the IRS. Instead, those mountains of cash uniquely go directly to insurance companies, which use the money partly for acquisitions.

Seemingly every day financial journalists report another merger. The result will be just three major providers of healthcare insurance in this country. We are close to a monopoly.

For years the GOP has called for across-the-state purchasing of insurance for more competition to get costs under control.

Obamacare has done the exact opposite. Heaven help the consumer.

Lori Hamilton, Camarillo

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