<em>It’s all part of the master plan.</em>

Somewhere, a scrawny, angry little man is clasping his hands gleefully before him, muttering enthusiastically: “soon, the world will be mine!”

The story:

Harvard Pilgrim cancels Medicare Advantage plan

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care has notified customers that it will drop its Medicare Advantage health insurance program at the end of the year, forcing 22,000 senior citizens in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine to seek alternative supplemental coverage.

The decision by Wellesley-based Harvard Pilgrim, the state’s second-largest health insurer, was prompted by a freeze in federal reimbursements and a new requirement that insurers offering the kind of product sold by Harvard Pilgrim — a Medicare Advantage private fee for service plan — form a contracted network of doctors who agree to participate for a negotiated amount of money. Under current rules, patients can seek care from any doctor.

They are still going to offer services, according to the story. Just somewhat different services. Fewer services. At higher costs.

Say it with me now: it’s all part of the master plan.

• Worse service and higher prices = more people doing with less.

• More people doing with less = more opportunity for government to help.

• More opportunity for government to help = faster government growth.

• Faster government growth = greater government power.

• Greater government power = more legislation and regulation.

• And, because I’ve grown tired of this repetitive pattern, that means more private entities having to cut back and/or raise prices because the new government rules reduce their ability to make a profit.

And back to the beginning. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

Just remember: reducing choices in the public arena is government policy, whether our governmental leaders admit it or not, because that puts more power into their hands.