The editorial on health care exchanges (Nov. 11) needs further review.

It is a health care insurance exchange and nothing in it would provide for more physicians, greater access to health care or any other panacea dreamed of by those wanting something for nothing.

What it would create is a place individuals and groups could go to review health insurance rates, offering a menu based on services covered, level of coverage and limitations. It would also show people their eligibility for programs such as CHIP and Medicaid, should they unknowingly meet eligibility.

It is easy to bash one party over the other, but who is right?

The Democrats opposed being able to buy across state lines, but were in favor of the exchange, while Republicans seemed to favor interstate buying but opposed to the exchange. However, due to Maine’s small and rural nature, few carriers are interested in offering coverage here, thus any exchange would likely need to offer products now sold in nearby states in order to succeed.

I conclude that neither the federal or state government should take charge of the process but, instead, should form a cooperative exchange within New England instead of individually. A regional exchange would provide significant volume, limiting risk and exposure any one company could have from a few small, high-utilization accounts.

The end result would be lower rates and more choices for consumers — something large companies who have employees in multiple states already offer.

Maybe it is time to think outside the box.

Robert Reed, Lewiston

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