Vermont Senate expected to take up health reform legislation this week
From the Republic.com –
MONTPELIER, Vt. — A committee of the Vermont Senate is expected to work an extra day Monday — and a long one at that — as lawmakers push to finish work on a bill that would move the state toward Gov. Peter Shumlin’s goal of universal, single-payer health care.
Lawmakers usually work Tuesday through Friday, but Senate Health and Welfare Committee members say they’re expecting to work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday finishing their version of the bill, a version of which already has passed the House.
The bill calls for setting up a new health insurance marketplace, called an exchange, where consumers could compare benefit packages and costs offered by various insurance plans. It would also set up a board to design a health insurance system to serve every Vermonter.
I have worked in healthcare for 40 years. These are my observations and experiences for your consideration, please. Children 1 day to 5 years old should have free preventive healthcare, period. Start them out the right way. Medicaid, medicare and students have little affordability to pay out cost for healthcare and need help so they should have a co pay system for coverage. They canNot afford deductible plans. Keep it low but make them pay some towards the goal of health.
Middle class could go either way with affordability. Give the option for co pay or just deductible amount and keep the deductible at a reasonable amount say $2000 per person. HSA’s should be made available, also.
Option for the rich of income over $250,000 are the few who can afford the high deductibles for $4500 and get the extra coverages.They will be the ones to keep the insurance companies in business.
My husband and I already have made the move towards single payer. We carry our own insurance separately and it is easier to follow the billing and pay out individually. Our deductibles are not $4500 anymore, it is $2000 and it is more manageable. Insurance groups will find it easier also, i’m sure.
Just some thoughts for you to consider as I see people make choices daily, good and bad, about what they can “afford” to do to help maintain health or put it off and end up in the hospital due to prolonged complications.
And one more thing, we need to keep the education about health going in schools and in the public. People ARE listening.