Health Care, The Hottest Topic of the New Year.
And we’re back! Hopefully you all enjoyed the holiday season as much as we did. While we were gone, Congress passed legislation to extend federal funding for the SCHIP program through March 2009. Unfortunately, the program’s funding will hold steady at current levels, which means that the more than nine million American children who are currently uninsured will not be able to enroll. Additionally, the passed legislation did not include any provisions that would aid in reaching out to the more than 6 million uninsured American children who are eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP but are not enrolled.
What does this mean for Vermont? The good news is that none of our kids enrolled in Dr. Dynasaur will lose their health insurance. The bad news is that an important health care policy issue is left unresolved, an issue that has and will continue to impact our Catamount Health Plan.
As you may remember, President Bush wanted to limit SCHIP funding to children of families earning below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Just as he was announcing this new policy, his administration was ruling on Vermont’s application to use federal dollars for Catamount Health. The Bush administration had previously assured Vermont’s health care administration that it would be permitted to use federal dollars to subsidize health insurance premiums for Vermonters living at up to 300% FPL (approximately $60,000 per year for a family of four). But in the face of the SCHIP debate, the Bush administration went back on its word and agreed to fund only up to 200% FPL. The Vermont Legislature and Governor Douglas have pledged to make up the difference with state funds until the federal funding issues are resolved.
Based on the outcome of the SCHIP bill, it looks like we might have to wait until there’s a new administration in the White House.
Speaking of Catamount, here are the 2007 enrollment figures from the Douglas administration: As of December 31, 2007, 165 Vermonters had enrolled in the Catamount Health Plan at full cost, while 1,187 enrolled in Catamount with premium assistance and 313 had enrolled in the employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) premium assistance program. Enrollment goals for fiscal year 2008 (which technically extends from July 1, 2007 through June 31, 2008, but enrollment in Catamount Health could not begin until October 1, 2007) are as follows: 1,447 for Catamount Health at full cost; 2,798 for Catamount Health with premium assistance; and 656 for ESI premium assistance.
This means that the administration is nearly halfway to meeting its goals for enrollment in the two premium assistance programs. So far, so good. Now, on to the legislative session! Check back later this week for my legislative preview and update of the early health care issues we’ll be looking at in the State House.
What does this mean for Vermont? The good news is that none of our kids enrolled in Dr. Dynasaur will lose their health insurance. The bad news is that an important health care policy issue is left unresolved, an issue that has and will continue to impact our Catamount Health Plan.
As you may remember, President Bush wanted to limit SCHIP funding to children of families earning below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Just as he was announcing this new policy, his administration was ruling on Vermont’s application to use federal dollars for Catamount Health. The Bush administration had previously assured Vermont’s health care administration that it would be permitted to use federal dollars to subsidize health insurance premiums for Vermonters living at up to 300% FPL (approximately $60,000 per year for a family of four). But in the face of the SCHIP debate, the Bush administration went back on its word and agreed to fund only up to 200% FPL. The Vermont Legislature and Governor Douglas have pledged to make up the difference with state funds until the federal funding issues are resolved.
Based on the outcome of the SCHIP bill, it looks like we might have to wait until there’s a new administration in the White House.
Speaking of Catamount, here are the 2007 enrollment figures from the Douglas administration: As of December 31, 2007, 165 Vermonters had enrolled in the Catamount Health Plan at full cost, while 1,187 enrolled in Catamount with premium assistance and 313 had enrolled in the employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) premium assistance program. Enrollment goals for fiscal year 2008 (which technically extends from July 1, 2007 through June 31, 2008, but enrollment in Catamount Health could not begin until October 1, 2007) are as follows: 1,447 for Catamount Health at full cost; 2,798 for Catamount Health with premium assistance; and 656 for ESI premium assistance.
This means that the administration is nearly halfway to meeting its goals for enrollment in the two premium assistance programs. So far, so good. Now, on to the legislative session! Check back later this week for my legislative preview and update of the early health care issues we’ll be looking at in the State House.
Labels: health care
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