Costly Healthcare Pooling Bill Approved
The legislature’s Insurance Committee has approved a measure that would open the expensive state employee health plan to small businesses, nonprofits and other groups. Under HB 6308, this new state-run health plan would compete directly against the state’s private marketplace.
The 11-9 vote was mostly along party lines, with most Democrats supporting the measure [except Sen. Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury) and Rep. Linda Schofield (D-Simsbury)] and all Republicans opposing it.
Given the high benefit levels of the state plans, HB 6308 would not offer small businesses any real cost relief.
Many Connecticut businesses are already struggling mightily to be able to afford the high costs of healthcare. But the state’s plan is among the most expensive—making it one of the factors contributing to Connecticut's enormous budget crisis.
True healthcare reform comes not from giving more control of the system to state government, but from policymakers working to strengthen our market-based, employer-sponsored system by reducing healthcare costs, increasing access to health coverage, and improving the quality of care.
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