LWVCT Urges Public Health Insurance Option 9/3/09
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jean Rabinow, LWVCT 203-288-7996 September 3, 2009 Naomi Schiff Myers 203-637-3892
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CONNECTICUT SUPPORTS THE INCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC OPTION IN HEALTH CARE REFORM
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut is urging its members and all citizens to support the public option which we believe is critical to health care reform. America is facing a health care crisis with a combination of skyrocketing costs and 46 million people with no health insurance, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. Here in Connecticut, approximately 326,000 people don’t have coverage. Many more may lose coverage if they lose their jobs in the current economic decline. People who lack insurance still get sick and hospitals must treat them, creating a heavy burden for Connecticut hospitals. To cover those costs, the hospitals raise their rates. Health care insurance is expensive and the cost is growing. Connecticut family health insurance premiums grew 8.2% faster than median family income from 2000 to 2007. Health care services consume $ 0.12 of every dollar in Connecticut’s economy. Part of the problem is that administrative costs of private health care plans are so high—approximately 20% of private health insurance spending is devoted to nonmedical costs, according to a recent public statement from the Fairfield County Medical Association.
The League believes that quality, affordable health care should be available to all residents and that health policy reform should include equitable distribution of services, efficient and economical delivery of care and effective cost control measures. Offering a choice of a government administered health insurance plan like Medicare that would compete with private insurance should result in lower administrative costs and insurance fees and would eliminate refusal of coverage for pre-existing conditions.
The League believes in the option of a public health insurance plan for those who are not happy with their current medical plan or have no coverage, while retaining the choice of private insurance for those who prefer it.
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