Article Interesting but Irrelevant to Residents

“Informed Consent: Business, Consumers Are Getting Savvier About Choosing Health Plans,” Oct. 16) was an interesting article but of no relevance to the residents of California. The august group of sources providing these comparisons must have omitted this state from their studies. With the advent of Assembly Bill 1672, my health insurance rate rose 95%. The replacement insurance, with greater deductible and less options, is still considerably higher than before.

An appropriate follow-up to this article would be to compare these costs within California. As an example, with a $500 deductible, a family in Los Angeles, with the parents under 30, could have a monthly premium of $336 for an annual rate of $4,032. Another family, with parents between 30 and 39, could pay $408 per month for an annual rate of $4,896. These rates are significantly higher than those indicated in your article and are far more representative of what is available to us. A true comparison must indicate what the costs are in California.

RAY MACIAG

Van Nuys