The Courant is reporting that a group of Democratic state legislators have proposed something resembling universal health care.
The high points appear to be:
- Reduce premium tax on heath insurance sold to small businesses;
- Offer tax credits as incentives for small businesses to offer health insurance to part-time employees;
- Increase Medicaid reimbursements by 30%;
- New 3% “provider tax” for health care services;
- New tax on nonessential cosmetic surgery;
- Cigarette tax hike from $1.51/pack to $1.75;
- Extend Medicaid eligibility down to all members of families at/below 185% of the official poverty level; and
- Assistance for low-income workers to help them pay for their premiums.
I’m not sure about that 3% “provider tax”. I don’t work on the health side of the business, but my gut tells me that such a tax might not be meet the usual/customary/reasonable test in insurer remittance to providers, which could mean that either the doctors or the patients will have to eat the additional cost.
True, it’s only 3%…but 3% on a huge medical bill can be a lot of money.
I’m naturally distrustful of big spending plans which are to be funded by tax hikes…particularly when the spending is exposed to a significant inflation threat. However, I will credit the legislators with having the guts to try to find a way to make this work.
Perhaps the plan ought to include some sort of program to keep smokers smoking. Considering how dependant the state’s coffers seem to have become on the addiction of a few citizens, we can’t afford to have them quit, even if it’s in the interest of their health to do so.