In recent months, our coverage has focused heavily on single-payer health care — and with good reason. As the ACA continues to struggle and Americans grow increasingly disillusioned with our health care system, single payer is likely to remain in the spotlight for the foreseeable future. As I wrote last month, growing interest at the state level will be a big reason why.
Some industry professionals I speak with don't seem to take single-payer seriously, while others seem to take it very personally indeed, as evidenced by the angry emails I occasionally receive, implying that the fact we spend so much time covering the issue somehow translates into support. But the vast majority of those I hear from recognize the gravity of what's happening, and say they want to read more about it.
Well, if you fall into the latter camp, you're in luck. This month's cover story takes a look at the issue of single-payer health care, focusing on state-level legislation like Amendment 69 in Colorado.
“ColoradoCare proponents see health care as a fundamental right,” writes Nathan Solheim. “They believe the system would reduce the overall amount Coloradoans spend on health care, while improving quality and providing coverage for everyone.”
Joni Reents, president of the Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters, disagrees, noting “the promise that a simple solution like combining all buyers into one block will result in more affordable care for all — unfortunately, it isn't that simple.”
Could ColoradoCare's effort succeed where other states have failed? Although previous polls provided hope for proponents, the latest, released in early September, shows that the tide may be turning. A survey of 500 likely voters found that 65 percent of respondents now oppose the measure, while only 27 percent support it.
According to the authors, “We believe the amendment asks too much from Colorado voters by asking them to raise their state income tax by 10 percent. While the dream of universal health care may sound appealing to some Colorado voters, two-thirds are unwilling to pay up for it.”
Time for opponents to breathe a sigh of relief? It might be wise to wait until the final numbers are in. After all, the stakes remain enormously high. According to one industry exec, “if Colorado approves this measure, it will forever change the landscape of health care in the U.S.”
Don't overlook this tidbit: Other states, including California, New Jersey, New York and Oregon, are currently looking into single-payer or universal health care models.
This isn't over yet.
Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO, part of your ALM digital membership.
Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking benefits news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical converage of the property casualty insurance and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, PropertyCasualty360 and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Paul Wilson
Paul Wilson is the editor-in-chief of BenefitsPRO Magazine and BenefitsPRO.com. He has covered the insurance industry for more than a decade, including stints at Retirement Advisor Magazine and ProducersWeb.
