Health Care Merger Places Hawai'i's Well-Being at Risk When one organization controls both how care is delivered and how much it costs, Hawai'i's families and businesses bear the consequences. Hawai'i already struggles with some of the highest health care costs in the nation. Families, kpuna, and small businesses are doing everything they can to keep up. At The Queen's Health Systems, we believe strongly that a merger between HMSA and Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH) raises serious and immediate concerns for all Hawai'i residents. Experience from other states shows that when insurers and care providers merge, costs rise, access narrows, and the community ultimately loses. And when one entity gains control over both the financing and delivery of care, critical services can be pulled away from the hospitals that depend on them to stay open. These are exactly the kind of unintended consequence other states have seen. The risk isn't theoretical. Hawai'i's independent hospitals and rural communities could be placed under new financial pressure. Small businesses could face premium increases they cannot absorb. Families could see fewer local care options as decisions move farther away from the community and closer to a single corporate structure. When polled, a strong majority of Hawai'i residents oppose a merger because of concerns over a monopoly and access. They prefer steady, practical improvements, not major changes that could disrupt access to care or place essential services in jeopardy. A merger of this scale could alter our health care landscape for decades. Before any decision is made, Hawai'i deserves a full, independent review that asks hard questions and puts the needs of our community first. A decision this big should strengthen our entire health system. It should not favor one part at the expense of all others. Learn more about how this merger could affect you at HealthCareMerger RisksHI.org THE QUEEN'S HEALTH SYSTEMS Health Care Merger Places Hawai'i's Well - Being at Risk When one organization controls both how care is delivered and how much it costs , Hawai'i's families and businesses bear the consequences . Hawai'i already struggles with some of the highest health care costs in the nation . Families , kpuna , and small businesses are doing everything they can to keep up . At The Queen's Health Systems , we believe strongly that a merger between HMSA and Hawaii Pacific Health ( HPH ) raises serious and immediate concerns for all Hawai'i residents . Experience from other states shows that when insurers and care providers merge , costs rise , access narrows , and the community ultimately loses . And when one entity gains control over both the financing and delivery of care , critical services can be pulled away from the hospitals that depend on them to stay open . These are exactly the kind of unintended consequence other states have seen . The risk isn't theoretical . Hawai'i's independent hospitals and rural communities could be placed under new financial pressure . Small businesses could face premium increases they cannot absorb . Families could see fewer local care options as decisions move farther away from the community and closer to a single corporate structure . When polled , a strong majority of Hawai'i residents oppose a merger because of concerns over a monopoly and access . They prefer steady , practical improvements , not major changes that could disrupt access to care or place essential services in jeopardy . A merger of this scale could alter our health care landscape for decades . Before any decision is made , Hawai'i deserves a full , independent review that asks hard questions and puts the needs of our community first . A decision this big should strengthen our entire health system . It should not favor one part at the expense of all others . Learn more about how this merger could affect you at HealthCareMerger RisksHI.org THE QUEEN'S HEALTH SYSTEMS