Candidates for Insurance Commissioner speak at the Neshoba County Fair

Candidate for Insurance Commissioner Robert Amos and current Commissioner running for reelection Mike Chaney, spoke at the 2019 Neshoba County Fair.

Amos said he’s here to support all the hospitals that had to shut down because they didn’t have the cash on hand to operate.

“You’re going to hear that there are some insurance companies that have lowered rates… but we’re the third-highest payer in the nation.”

The commissioner hopeful said his role as a college professor qualifies him for this position.

“I understand this industry…. I have to be neutral and non-biased.”

For ten years, Amos has owned a healthcare business that helped get jobs in the healthcare industry.

Amos said the current administration is doing the opposite.

“We’re doing things that are causing rural hospitals and clinics to shut down…. Because it has something to do with making a profit.”

Chaney discussed the importance of his office’s role to regulate insurance.

“I’m almost certain that the state’s economy cannot function without insurance.”

The longterm commissioner stated that Medicare for all could be a total collapse of the U.S. healthcare system, but he’s encouraged by the selling of short term plans for those who can’t afford insurance.

Also under the purview of the State Insurance Commissioner is the office of the State Fire Marshal. Chaney said the state’s Fire Academy in Rankin County is the number one fire academy in the United States.

The State Fire Marshal said that the Rural Fire Truck program has saved MS homeowners 1.6 billion dollars sine 1995. During his speech, Chaney presented checks to several counties ranging up to $90,000 for their rural fire truck programs.

While being an office of regulation, Chaney did say that the government does not need to get in the way of the people.

“Any government big enough to give you anything you want is big enough to take away everything you’ve got.”