Letters to the editor

Nevada's Insurance Commissioner, Alice Molasky Arman, must have taken leave of her senses when she approved the merger of UnitedHealth and Sierra Health Services. In spite of opposition from the American Medical Association, in spite of the fact that hospitals, physicians, and medical labs all over Nevada refuse to accept UnitedHealth care insurance, in spite of millions of dollars in fines imposed by several other states' Attorney Generals for fraudulent practices, in spite of all these indications of an evil corporation of sociopaths, Ms. Arman approved this merger because their company spokesmen promised to play nice.

Why she would believe people who have made fortunes through fraud and deception is a bureaucratic mystery. Now, to add to the case against this merger, which would give the UnitedHealth Group a 90 percent monopoly over health coverage in Nevada, the State of California has weighed in with $1.3 billion in fines for 133,000 violations and false claim denials.

Denials are the method that UnitedHealth Group uses to enhance its fortunes. Their spokesman piously pronounced that if this monopolistic merger is approved, the insurance premiums would not be raised. But this is not how the company gets rich. Rather, they simply don't pay out what they are contractually obliged to pay in claims. They chisel down the health care providers, and they conjure up specious excuses for not paying claims to their sick and needy clients. The UnitedHealth Group claim denial rate is 14.4 percent, the highest of any insurance company in the nation.

If the Insurance Commissioner refuses to do her job by protecting the citizens of Nevada from this corporate monster, the last resort is the Attorney General, Catherine Cortez Masto. Let's hope that she, too, is not guiled by the UnitedHealth Group's lying lobbyists.

PHIL STOTTS

Carson City

Caucus is an archaic ritual that has to go

It irritates me that I was unable to cast my vote for my choice because this state doesn't have a primary. I believe that what makes this country great is our right to choose our politicians by voting. The idea that I should have to argue with my neighbor about who gets nominated is ridiculous; that's fine if you are sitting around having a discussion, but to think that it's an acceptable way to elect someone is stupid. It's un-American and should be illegal. Let the politicians campaign, and if influential people want to endorse, that's fine, but it's our right as Americans to cast our votes, not sit around drinking tea listening to someone try to influence your vote. I was one of the majority of this state who was unable to attend a caucus even if I had wanted to, and that means my vote was not cast! Outrageous! This archaic ritual needs to be abolished!

CARL GRINDSTAFF

Carson City

A veteran who supports McCain

I am writing this for all veterans. I think it is time for us to wake up and see what the Clintons have done. I think it is time for our Vets to stand-up for John McCain to be our next president. He has stood up for us and I know in my heart he would make a very good president for all of us. Just think for what we have gone through with the other president, they didn't do nothing and neither did Clinton. Just look at all of their background before you vote. God Bless. I am a veteran so I hope you will think twice when you go to the polls to vote.

ROSALYNN K. SPREEMAN

Carson City

Photo was personal attack against teacher

January 31, I unfold a front-page, full-blown photo of Dr. Bill Beeson in chains and prison garb. My gut reaction: The Appeal did not need to print that photo. This is not its typical coverage of law enforcement news.

Is this the same newspaper I subscribe to? The paper which regularly celebrates admitted illegal aliens and meth addicts with front-page photos and sympathy pieces?

The photo of Dr. Beeson screamed "personal attack" by the staff of The Appeal. In future coverage, please consider giving this accomplished, productive member of the community the same privacy you afford to other accusees.

LINDA ANDERSON

Carson City