A Personal Message From Gerry Purcell

Why I Am Running For Georgia
Insurance Commissioner

Thanks so much for visiting our website. I am running for Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner because I believe I can make a positive impact for Georgia.

I believe Georgians are ready for some fresh faces and new voices to lead us through difficult times – new leaders who have the courage of their convictions and who put the interests of the people above their own.

I love my home State of Georgia, and I am committed to making Georgia a model state with regard to our vital insurance markets. We have some work to do to achieve that objective.

We are in a unique time, particularly as it relates to one of the most important areas of insurance - health care.

Health reform is my passion and my calling. Being a cancer survivor was the catalyst that inspired me to choose health care as a career. I am a benefactor of the greatest health care delivery model in the world. Today, I am deeply concerned that we are on the verge of destroying it. What we need most now is wisdom, clarity and innovation. We must have a Commissioner of Insurance who thoroughly understands the challenges involved with health care reform and one who can articulate real solutions.

There is no doubt we must make some structural changes in our health care system. As a national health care reformer, I was an early advocate for transparency in the 1990’s, long before transparency became popular to speak about.

I will be focusing on transparency of costs, as well as improving access to care by restoring patient and provider relationships that have been damaged over the past two decades and protecting the health privacy rights of Georgia’s consumers.

I am particularly passionate about unleashing our valued local providers - pharmacists and primary care professionals - to do what they do best and what they want to do most - provide care to patients. In the name of “cost control”, we have added so many barriers to patient care, which have only added more costs.

I will also be advocating aggressive health coverage tax incentives for small and medium sized business and better deductibility for consumer medical bills. I will take a bullhorn, and a sledgehammer when possible, to the daunting mandates that add 20-50% to our health care costs. I will immediately establish advisory panels consisting of business leaders, brokers, agents and providers across the state to provide ongoing feedback, ideas and solutions to address the real world health care and insurance challenges. 

For well over a decade, I have been advocating free market reforms, especially transparency, to literally thousands of consumers, employers and legislators. Over the coming months, I will be sharing seven major free-market solutions to address the three primary health care challenges: coverage, care and costs.

I will take this message throughout Georgia, and we will also be active at the national level making sure the interests of Georgians are protected.  I can't wait to get started!
 
Check out our website and let us hear from you soon. I need your help to win against the old political machine.

You can count on me to sound the call of our shared convictions.

God bless - Your servant,

Gerry Purcell