Pitt Co. Commissioners question BlueCross BlueShield health reform campaign

CEO Bob Greczyn: How can new taxes that raise your premiums be the answer?

By: Arthur Mondale | WNCT
Published: November 03, 2009

The biggest insurance company in North Carolina has stepped into the battle over health care.
BlueCross BlueShield of NC has mounted a campaign against adding the public option-also known as government run health insurance plan. The campaign takes aim at US Senator Kay Hagan and was center stage at the Pitt County Commission meeting on Monday.
The debate fire re-ignited when a handful of commissioners received flyers from BlueCross BlueShield--urging people to oppose government run insurance to Senator Hagan.
The flyers claim the government is unfairly competing with the private sector. But, commissioners argue its inappropriate for blue cross blue shield to enter the debate.
Recently, BlueCross BlueShield posted a video featuring CEO Bob Greczyn which says they don't oppose health reform, the company only opposes the government-run option. "If the cost of health care is the number one problem--how can new taxes that raise your premiums be the answer,” said CEO Bob Greczyn
Company spokesman Lew Borman tells 9OYS there's no partisan issue here--but they're working to ensure their customers hear from all lawmakers.
"Senator Hagan is a key vote and again she has not made her position clear on this issue,” Borman said. “We've got an obligation in some sense and responsibility to be involved and speak out on these issues that impact our customers...the people in our state need to hear all sides of the health reform issue and that's why we're involved with this."
Borman says not every person covered by the company has received a flyer. The company wants health reform to be a choice for all patients.