“My husband, Bruce, and I never were able to obtain medical insurance that would cover my condition, a devastating and disabling genetic disease called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – so we are having one massive estate sale, selling our home, and moving to Belgium, where I can get the care I need at a cost we can afford explains Barbara Calder of Colorado Springs, Colo.”

“Bruce had received insurance through his job, but they refused to cover me, saying that the plan didn’t cover genetic counseling. The insurance company eventually went broke, saying they hadn’t anticipated people getting older or using the insurance they had paid for.”

“Every joint in my body is failing save my left hip. I have to tape my toes together at night when even the pressure of a blanket can cause them to dislocate. I live in constant pain, and get only partial relief with ibuprofen, the only medication I can afford without health insurance.”

“There are very few doctors in this country who understand my condition, and people who suffer from this disease usually go undiagnosed and eventually lose their insurance. My mother died of the same condition, though also undiagnosed at age 40, my 19-year-old daughter developed symptoms at age 15, and my 22- year-old son is beginning to experience problems.”

“I want health insurance companies to be abolished, because they aren’t in the business to care for the sick. Their main function is to make profits, and the sick just get in their way. Imagine every person paying a percentage of their income into health services that would help all Americans? That is how many European Union (EU) countries do it,” Calder continued. “Most people we met in the EU on our trip last week were proud to pay into such a system, because it made their country healthier and better for all who lived there.”

By: Guaranteedhealthcare.org – Sun, 09/14/2008 – 05:20

Two-thirds of the 125 businesses that responded to the survey also reported that they would transfer some of the cost increase to their employees (Migoya/Jaffe, Denver Post, 10/31). Workers likely would cover as much as 25% of the cost increase, the respondents said (Colorado Springs Gazette, 10/30).

Bill Lindsey, president of the Denver division of Lockton, said the annual cost-shifting of premiums, deductibles and employee out-of-pocket costs “gets worse and worse each year.” He added, “Employers are passing on health costs, and at some point, we are going to reach the breaking point.” He added, “Employers are only going to give small merit-pay increases this year, the cost of gas and heating a home are rising, and at some point people are going to say, ‘Hey, we’re pretty healthy’ and not pay for health insurance.”

Lindsey said a possible reason for the higher premium cost increases could be that the state’s small-business population is higher than elsewhere, while it has fewer unions that can negotiate with insurers for lower premiums. In addition, Lindsey said Colorado’s uninsured population stands at 17%, compared to the national average of 15.9%, which contributes to the increase in costs (Denver Post, 10/31).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork.org/email . The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. © 2007 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

By: kaisernetwork.org – Mon, 11/03/2008 – 17:21

The tax generated $169.6 million in the first year, but revenue has fallen for two straight years and budget forecasts show the revenue is expected to decline to $135.5 million in fiscal year 2012 — a 20% drop before accounting for inflation. The purchase of cigarettes across state lines, over the Internet and on the black market also is contributing to lower cigarette tax revenue.

State legislators say that they anticipated the decline in revenues and that most of the new money was allocated in yearly grants that can be reduced without much impact. However, 46% of the cigarette tax revenue is used to expand enrollment in public health insurance programs, such as Medicaid and SCHIP. State Sen. Betty Boyd (D) said, “That’s a problem if the funds aren’t there, because you can’t provide services if you don’t have money. In the end, if we lose enough money, less kids will get services.” She added, “If the money falls off, that’s good news and bad news. And I think we celebrate the good news and hope that a dropoff in smoking reduces the cost of health care.”

Smoking rates in the state have declined in two of the past three years and smoking rates among teenagers already are below the 2010 goal set by a national coalition of health care professionals.

The state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which oversees Medicaid and SCHIP, currently has a reserve of $91.4 million but expects it will be completely depleted by July 2012 if it continues to provide services at the current level. The law also specifies percentages of revenue that must go toward programs such as public health insurance, community clinics and anti-smoking programs, which prevent the state from cutting smoking cessation program grants while keeping the same amount of money in place for Medicaid and SCHIP as revenue declines, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

Sen. John Morse (D-Colo.) said the state could reduce the income eligibility level to reduce costs but that would reverse years of expanding eligibility (Sealover, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 12/3).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork.org/email . The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. © 2007 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

By: kaisernetwork.org – Thu, 12/04/2008 – 17:28

The office of Gov. Bill Ritter (D) and the Colorado Hospital Association are continuing to negotiate a fee, but CHA board members support the plan, according to CHA President Steven Summer.

The fee, which could generate up to $600 million annually along with federal matching funds, would be used to expand eligibility in government-sponsored health programs, allow some residents to buy into Medicaid and increase payments for physicians and hospitals that treat Medicaid beneficiaries (Sealover, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 1/7).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork.org/email . The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. © 2007 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

By: kaisernetwork.org – Fri, 01/09/2009 – 14:59

Under the plans, the statewould provide subsidies to residents who cannot afford to obtain healthinsurance. A third plan proposed by the Health Care for All Colorado Coalition would establish a single-payer health care system administered by the state, and a fourth plan proposed by the Service Employees International Union would expand state health insurance programs and establish a large health insurance purchasing pool (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/23).

Thelatest plan presented by the commission would require all stateresidents to obtain health insurance or face a tax penalty. Inaddition, the plan would expand the state Medicaid program and wouldprovide subsidies to help low-income residents purchase healthinsurance.

The plan also would require private health insurers in thestate to offer several low-cost, limited-coverage plans capped at$50,000 in benefits. About 20 members of the commission voted toapprove the plan, but some members raised concerns about the cost andthe effects on employers in the state. A detailed analysis of the costof the plan, as well as proposals to finance the plan, is expected tobe available by mid-October. The commission over the next few monthswill select a final plan to recommend to the state Legislature inJanuary 2008 (Denver Post, 9/11).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. Youcan view the entire Kaiser DailyHealth Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email deliveryat kaisernetwork.org/email. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, afree service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. 2007 Advisory BoardCompany and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

By: Kaisernetwork.org – Wed, 09/12/2007 – 17:35

Underthe plans, the state would provide subsidies to residents who cannotafford to obtain health insurance. A third plan proposed by the Health Care for All Colorado Coalition would establish a single-payer health care system administered by the state, and a fourth plan proposed by the Service Employees International Unionwould expand state health insurance programs and establish a largehealth insurance purchasing pool. The fifth proposal also would requireall state residents to obtain health insurance or face a tax penalty.

Inaddition, the plan would expand the state Medicaid program and wouldprovide subsidies to help low-income residents purchase healthinsurance. The plan also would require private health insurers in thestate to offer several low-cost, limited-coverage plans capped at$50,000 in benefits (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/12).

Democratswho attended the 90-minute hearing lauded the commission’s efforts tofind solutions to Colorado’s uninsured problem. However, the "fewRepublicans who attended" maintain that the commission is "exceedingthe scope of its duties and considering plans the public will notaccept," the Gazette reports. The commission plans todraft a final evaluation of the proposals and present it to the stateLegislature in January 2008. Meanwhile, the commission will continue tohold public hearings on the proposals (Colorado Springs Gazette, 9/12). \t\t\t\t\t\t

\t\t Email this story to a friend(z).
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Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. Youcan view the entire Kaiser DailyHealth Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email deliveryat kaisernetwork.org/email. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, afree service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. 2007 Advisory BoardCompany and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

By: Kaisernetwork.org – Mon, 09/17/2007 – 17:22

Two of the proposals, created by the Colorado State Association of Health Underwritersand the Committee for Colorado Health Solutions, also would require allstate residents to obtain health coverage. Under the plans, the statewould provide subsidies to residents who cannot afford to obtain healthinsurance. A third plan proposed by the Health Care for All Colorado Coalition would establish a single-payer health care system administered by the state, and a fourth plan proposed by the Service Employees International Union would expand state health insurance programs and establish a large health insurance purchasing pool (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/17).

Thefifth proposal would expand Medicaid eligibility to state residentswith incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level and would allowresidents with disabilities who have incomes up to 250% of the povertylevel to buy in to Medicaid. The proposal also would combine Medicaidand the Child Health Plan Plus.Other provisions of the proposal would create a standard identificationcard for all state residents; provide subsidies for low-incomeresidents to purchase insurance; set up a 24-hour, seven-day-a-weeknurse line for residents; and allow residents to enroll in healthinsurance plans throughout the year, regardless of changes to theiremployment or income status.

The proposal would assess fines onuninsured residents, but residents with incomes between 400% and 500%of the poverty level would be exempt if their insurance premiums aregreater than 9% of their income. Commission members were unable toreach a consensus on insurance coverage for undocumented immigrantworkers, the News reports. The commission’s recommendations will be analyzed by the Lewin Group, an accounting firm, and a final proposal is expected to be completed by the end of November (Denver Rocky Mountain News, 9/25).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. Youcan view the entire Kaiser DailyHealth Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email deliveryat kaisernetwork.org/email. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, afree service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. 2007 Advisory BoardCompany and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

By: Kaisernetwork.org – Wed, 09/26/2007 – 17:38

The proposal — which the commission developed based on four other proposalsit received from state interest groups — would require all residentsto obtain coverage or pay a penalty, expand Medicaid and children’shealth programs, provide subsidies to residents with incomes up to 400%of the federal poverty level to purchase insurance, and allow residentswith disabilities who have incomes up to 450% of the poverty level tobuy into Medicaid. The commission planned to meet on Friday to discussways to reduce the cost of the fifth proposal by focusing only on thestate’s neediest people, and it will work with The Lewin Group over the next month to refine the proposal (Barge, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 10/19).
\tReprinted with permission from kaisernetwork\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t%26lt;!–\t\t@page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in }\t\tP { margin-bottom: 0.08in }\t\tA:link { color: #0000ff }\t–%26gt;\t

Reprinted with permission fromkaisernetwork.org.You can view the entire KaiserDaily Health Policy Report, search the archives, andsign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork.org/email. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published forkaisernetwork.org,a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. 2007Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rightsreserved.

By: kaisernetwork.org – Tue, 10/23/2007 – 06:03

The commission reviewed five health care proposals,and the recommendations closely resemble the proposal developed by thepanel and are similar to Massachusetts’ health insurance law.

Thepackage would cost an estimated $1.1 billion and would expand coverageto 696,000 of the state’s 792,000 uninsured residents. Residents wouldbe required to obtain private insurance, unless they qualify for publicprograms, such as Medicare and Medicaid. The state also would providesubsidies to help some residents purchase private insurance, accordingto the recommendations. The proposal would bar insurers from denyingcoverage to sick applicants and would require employers to offer pretaxplans for employee health coverage.

Gov. Bill Ritter (D) and state Democrats have discussed a tax increase to pay for a health system overhaul (Brown, Denver Post, 11/20).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. Youcan view the entire Kaiser DailyHealth Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email deliveryat kaisernetwork.org/email. The Kaiser Daily HealthPolicy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The HenryJ. Kaiser Family Foundation. 2007 Advisory Board Company and KaiserFamily Foundation. All rights reserved.

By: kaisernetwork.org – Wed, 11/21/2007 – 18:23

Among the recommendations,the commission proposed giving state residents %26quot;meaningful choices%26quot;for health care plans and requiring all documented residents to register in ahealth plan that at least offers minimum coverage. Other recommendationsinclude offering discounted premiums to residents who lead healthy lifestyles,and implementing a more convenient information system for residents andemployers to seek details of plans, such as cost and coverage restrictions.

The 27-member commissionover the next few weeks will revise the report before presenting it to theGeneral Assembly at the end of January 2008 (Montero, Denver Rocky MountainNews, 12/14).

Reprintedwith permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, and sign upfor email delivery at kaisernetwork.org/email . The Kaiser Daily Health PolicyReport is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J.Kaiser Family Foundation. 2007 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser FamilyFoundation. All rights reserved.

By: kaisernetwork.org – Mon, 12/17/2007 – 18:11