By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS, Associated Press Writer Tue May 3, 7:29 AM ET
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The cost of health care has more than doubled in Milton Williams' two decades as treasurer of a small school district in northeast Ohio.
With Lakeview schools now paying almost $2 million a year in premiums, Williams says he's open to a legislative proposal to have the state's school districts pool together to buy health insurance.
He isn't alone: Advocates in at least a half dozen states where insurance pooling plans are being considered say it makes little sense for school systems to negotiate health plans individually.
"We'd definitely like to spend more money on textbooks and instructional supplies," Williams said.
Opponents of insurance pooling — including many teachers' unions and districts with generous benefits — say a state-run bureaucracy can diminish benefits and strip them of collective bargaining rights.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=14&u=/ap/20050503/ap_on_re_us/health_care_poolingIs this a good idea or not? Could individual citizens pool together and negotiate as a bloc prices with pharmaceutical companies?