Letter: Medical insurance delivers no value

I am responding to the article about Samaritan Health Services' letter to UnitedHealthcare Insurance customers stating they will be out of network as of January ("Samaritan gives United the boot," Sept. 24).

I am a United customer, and hear from other United customers about their concerns and confusion, and our lack of viable alternatives. I looked at a medication-only plan, but that costs nearly as much as my full United plan and doesn't cover dental, vision or hearing, and also has a $500 deductible.

The costs of other plans are outrageous. However, Samaritan is legitimately concerned about the way United does business.

All insurance companies delay payments, and all get in the way of delivering care, but United seems to have made it a business model. And also I looked over my billing for last month and discovered, to my utter shock, that I had taken an ambulance to the emergency room in July. And Medicare had been billed accordingly.

Except I hadn't taken an ambulance.

Medical insurance delivers no value and is completely unnecessary. Other rich nations know this. Universal health care is the way to stop crushing providers and customers. Let's get it today.

Shelley Ries

Corvallis