Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidates Differ On How To Expand Health Coverage

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 01 Nov 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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The Louisville Courier-Journal on Tuesday examined health care proposals from Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Steve Beshear (D) and incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R). According to the Courier-Journal, Fletcher and Beshear "agree on some health care issues but have different approaches to one pressing problem -- extending health coverage to more than half a million residents who lack it."

Fletcher, noting that three-quarters of the state's uninsured work for small businesses, has said he would expand the ICARE program his administration established to help small employers pay for workers' coverage. The program currently covers more than 1,500 people in businesses with 25 or fewer employees, but Fletcher would expand eligibility to employers with 50 or fewer workers. He also has proposed establishing ICARE 4 Kids, which would expand KCHIP, the state's version of SCHIP, to subsidize premiums so families of small-business workers could purchase coverage through ICARE.

Beshear has proposed allowing families with incomes between 200% and 300% of the federal poverty level to purchase coverage through KCHIP, with premiums on a sliding scale based on income. Families with incomes above 300% of the poverty level also could enroll children in the program, but they would pay full premiums.

Both candidates support prevention efforts to help lower health care costs. In addition, both candidates oppose raising cigarette taxes to pay for their respective expansions. Health reform advocates say Beshear's "overall proposals for cutting the ranks of the uninsured are more comprehensive," but they "credit Fletcher for keeping many from losing health coverage through his management of Medicaid," according to the Courier-Journal (Howington, Louisville Courier-Journal, 10/30).

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