An effort in Connecticut to implement a single payer, universal coverage program is just about dead, after the state’s Office of Fiscal Analysis determined it would cost as much as the entire state budget.
Politicians were shocked by the estimated total cost, which ranged from $12 billion to $18 billion.
I’m shocked that they were shocked.
My home state has just over 3 million citizens. At $4000 per person, that’s $12 billion; at $6000 per person, it’s $18 billion. I don’t know what’s more troubling – for politicians to not know that health care costs between $4000 and $6000 per person, or that we have about 3 million folks living here.
And it wasn’t just the pols; “”Even we were quite shocked [by] the enormity of the cost. … A lot of people are just scratching their heads and saying, `Wow!,'” said Eric George, associate counsel of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, the state’s largest business lobby.(Hartford Courant, 4/10).
OK, that’s just appalling. But don’t despair, there’s worse.
Amongst all the hand-wringing and slapping of foreheads, few have noted that the $18 billion is less than we’re spending today – if the state runs the program and funds it via taxes, that means the present mish-mash of self-pay, individual insurance, and employer-funded programs goes away.
And so does about $5 billion in cost, and the 400,000 uninsured residents get covered, and I get coverage for my uninsurable eyes (cataract surgery five years ago).
Notably, the Aetna has come out in support of universal coverage in its home state.
As a Connecticut resident, what I find appalling is the minimal understanding our legislators (and their staff) have of drivers of medical inflation. The current proposal – universal access – is only about access – opening up a very expensive system to more people. I also cannot understand how anyone would suggest eliminating the private insurers who have done the most to manage medical costs and utilization (their risk).
Aetna is supporting because CIGNA is! The volley ball match continues!
Reminds me of the MA plan where employers can either cover employees or pay a tax of something like $275/ee/year. Unbelievable!
Tom O’B