Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission Presents Health Insurance Proposals To Lawmakers
Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical InsuranceArticle Date: 19 Sep 2007 - 1:00 PDT
email to a friend
printer friendly
opinions'Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission Presents Health Insurance Proposals To Lawmakers'
| Patient / Public: |  | |
| Healthcare Prof: | |
|
| Article opinions: | 1 posts |
The Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform on Wednesday presented to lawmakers the five health care proposals being considered to expand health coverage to the state's estimated 792,000 uninsured residents, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports (Sealover, Colorado Springs Gazette, 9/12). Two of the proposals, created by the Colorado State Association for Health Underwriters and the Committee for Colorado Health Solutions, would require all state residents to obtain health insurance.
Under the plans, the state would provide subsidies to residents who cannot afford to obtain health insurance. A third plan proposed by the Health Care for All Colorado Coalition would establish a single-payer health care system administered by the state, and a fourth plan proposed by the Service Employees International Union would expand state health insurance programs and establish a large health insurance purchasing pool. The fifth proposal also would require all state residents to obtain health insurance or face a tax penalty.
In addition, the plan would expand the state Medicaid program and would provide subsidies to help low-income residents purchase health insurance. The plan also would require private health insurers in the state to offer several low-cost, limited-coverage plans capped at $50,000 in benefits (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/12).
Democrats who attended the 90-minute hearing lauded the commission's efforts to find solutions to Colorado's uninsured problem. However, the "few Republicans who attended" maintain that the commission is "exceeding the scope of its duties and considering plans the public will not accept," the Gazette reports. The commission plans to draft a final evaluation of the proposals and present it to the state Legislature in January 2008. Meanwhile, the commission will continue to hold public hearings on the proposals (Colorado Springs Gazette, 9/12).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Visit our health insurance / medical insurance section for the latest news on this subject.
MLA
26 May. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/82779.php>
APA
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/82779.php.
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
Visitor Opinions (latest shown first)
Affordable Health Insurance - Bah Humbug
posted by Laurie Magnuson on 26 Sep 2007 at 6:18 pmI have health insurance at a cost to me of $216.48 per month. My employer contributes $160 per month towards my total premium. Overall I have been healthy until this year. I have incurred over $5000 in out of pocket medical bills that is my portion. I am a divorced grandmother raising a 12 year old grandson, and supporting my 83 year old mother.
The local hospital, Banner Health, acknowledges my payment being made but I need to make more payment per month (approx. $400.00) to satisfy their repayment schedule. I can't do it, or we don't eat. As long as I am making payments they should be satisified. Unfortunately, they aren't taking into consideration that I also owe University Hospital $1050 for the procedures I had as outpatient for the same illness that caused my debt to Banner Health.
Their customer service department told me that doesn't matter to them. It doesn't matter to them for it's not coming out of their pocketbook. I did apply for financial help through Banner, but was denied stating I made too much money. OH HOW I WISH THAT WAS TRUE, then I wouldn't have given them all my financial information.
Now I'm trying to take out an equity loan, but the value of my house has decreased by $13,000 due to all the foreclosures in my area so that doesn't look promising either. Until I come to a solution, our grocery bill is getting cut by half just to pay Banner. SOMETHING NEED'S TO BE DONE! Every birthday my premium goes up. This year $40.00 but we also cut our coverage to make the premiums affordable. If we wouldn't have cut our coverage, I may not have the $5000 out of pocket expense.
I am between the age of 50 - 55 years old. Working full time, home schooling my grandson, and seeing that he gets to his boy scout meetings. I can't afford any of the activities, not even a uniform now that I have incurred this expense that Banner wants me to pay every month. Oh, and when I make the payment, I have to make it to a local collection agency who is acting as Banner pay center for all customers who have payment arrangements. I have good credit, but if this happens, it goes on my credit report.
Add Your Opinion On This Article
'Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission Presents Health Insurance Proposals To Lawmakers'Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.
All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)
Contact Our News Editors
For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.
Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:
Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.
Privacy Policy |
Terms and Conditions
MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.
