‘HMO Horror Story’ Perspective Challenged

Kathy Kristof is sure to receive bouquets from the medical/insurance lobbies for her “HMO Horror Story” article. That is the very viewpoint they are spending millions to promote in order to forestall health care reform.

The article is carefully crafted to include some objective information about HMOs, but then to scuttle it with a ham-handed headline and the example of Jan Gribbon as if it were typical. As for consumers being skeptical of HMOs, did Kristof take a survey?

The fact is that surveys of medical consumers reported in The Times in recent years have shown that HMOs take better care of patients for less money than private medicine.

The private pay/indemnity sector churns out its own horror cases, while 1,500 insurance companies help to jack up administrative costs to 24% of total health care spending (as of 1987).

Kristof’s best contribution is a short paragraph: “Most industry experts maintain that Gribbon’s case is highly unusual and shouldn’t cause consumers to avoid HMOs.”

JOY TRACHTENBERG

Arleta, Calif.