The Pitt County Board of Commissioners voted to send a letter to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina chastising the state's largest insurance provider over a mailer intended to whip up opposition to a public-run option to private health insurance.
The (Greenville) Daily Reflector reports the commission voted Monday to send the letter.
The county buys insurance coverage from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Commissioner Tom Johnson said the company should not use taxpayer money from Pitt County to send a partisan mailing, which included a card meant to put pressure on Sen. Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat who is still considering her position on the public option issue.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield spokesman Lew Borman told Dome that the insurer wants health care reform, but believes the public option will hurt consumers.
"Our point was these post cards won't have a significant impact on premiums, but we think some of the proposals in Washington could have a significant impact," Borman said. "We feel like we have an obligation to our customers to raise these questions."
That mailer has led some to send letters in support of the public option. The State Employees Association of N.C. is planning to hold a news conference Wednesday to announce a new Web site and campaign intended to counter Blue Cross.
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Re: Pitt leaders unhappy with BCBS
NC BCBS is PROBABLY the MOST CORRUPT company in NC!