Next Step in Gov's Plan to Cover Uninsured Utahns
None by KCPW
(KCPW News) There are more than 300-thousand Utahns without insurance, and Governor Jon Huntsman Junior hopes to have every one of them covered in the next decade.Last year he convened a working group on the issue and successfully pushed for money to expand the state's health program for children. Now he's ready for another committee to take up the ball. It will be part of United Way's Financial Stability Council and will include CEOs of Utah insurance companies, business executives, state health officials and low income and healthcare reform advocates.
With many more of the state's uninsured children covered,
Huntsman says his next concern is inspiring young people who often think they are invincible to get health insurance. That would broaden the risk pool and bring down costs. But Huntsman says it may take forcing those young people to have insurance.
He says Utah should not shy away from mandates, but first he says insurance companies need to quote "do what they are supposed to do, which is take a risk and provide policies that are affordable." That's the issue he expects the United Way committee to address when it convenes in April.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Tammi Diaz said:
I Support the Governor 100%.
2. Rich Seely said:
We don't want it for free but we need to be able to get it and not be turned down. Does not the large number of people who are uninsured constitute a hugh pool that would spread the risk widely. It makes no sence to not look at it this way.
Also why do the large insurance companys get the special rates at the hospital etc. that are not available to the uninsured. Why not forced them to give these reduced rates on procedures to everyone. Its all money and if they can do it for the insrurance companies for a set fee then they can do it for everyone for the same price. Instead of further picking on the unisured. Thanks