USA Today takes a closer look at Vermont's health care reform measures ... and seems to like what they find.
The Green Mountain state took a different route. Officials decided they couldn't afford to cover everyone, so they focused on cutting costs and improving care, with the goal of insuring more people. They won over critics in the Legislature and the public by not raising taxes.
Instead, the state convinced insurance companies and hospitals to kick in. The federal government gave Vermont flexibility in how to spend Medicaid dollars. The only hit to the public: a tax on cigarettes that is 80 cents per pack and a $365 per employee penalty for businesses that don't offer health insurance.
With President Obama's plans for a public health insurance option losing steam in Washington, D.C., could a Catamount-style program win over the critics?
-Dan Barlow
I really hope not. We need to get the employer out of the insurance business! My husband's small firm got coerced into a health savings plan -- so called -- which means we're all on the hook for $4,500 a year before BCBS even begins to chip in. Plus we're out upwards of $400 per person per month. What business can afford those kinds of costs?
Posted by: sharon | July 28, 2009 at 10:43 AM
So what can we say about our President Obama speech? Do any of them have a better idea than his plan for our countries health care system future.
Posted by: cheap soma online | September 09, 2009 at 03:20 PM
Which health-care model out of these choices do you like the best?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/countries/
It lists the pros and cons of systems with universal healthcare. Not all of them are socialist. :)
Remember, this is out of the choices provided. Last time I asked this question everyone said the USA. Gah.
Posted by: Soft Cialis | November 25, 2009 at 11:49 AM