I spent many decades working and living in a state in the Midwest, which had private workers compensation insurance, which employers were required to purchase or be self-insured. One forgets that workers compensation insurance started in many states in the early 20th century as a compromise between the worker having to sue his employer over a workplace injury, and the employer having to defend himself against these lawsuits.

It makes it sound easy to say that system will work just hunky-dory, but when you interject profit-hungry workers compensation carriers into the equation of serving injured workers, many times injured workers can get hurt. I saw countless instances where ruthless claim servicers of that insurance denying, shaving claims and paying benefits habitually late to injured workers, when they were at their most vulnerable. The chance to make big profits, out of someone else’s misery, is very hard to police, so bad things happen. Many injured workers have to function paycheck to paycheck, and when they cannot work to support their families, they are extremely vulnerable. Do not add one more vulnerable group that the private insurance sector can take advantage of. Allow a person to service them that does not have a conflict of interest. Vote no on Initiative 1082.

Robert Dickinson, Auburn