Governor Peter Shumlin today announced the proposed funding mechanism for Green Mountain Care, the state’s publicly financed universal health care system called for in Act 48. The following is the statement of VPIRG Consumer Protection Advocate, Falko Schilling:
VPIRG supports a health care funding system where everyone pays their fair share and everyone benefits. The options presented today embody those principles. The study once again shows that transitioning to Green Mountain Care is essential to making health care work in Vermont. This program will save Vermonters over $280 million dollars in its first three years, while guaranteeing comprehensive coverage for all Vermonters. That’s a prescription for success.
We look forward to working with the administration and the legislature in reviewing these financing options, and developing a funding solution that is broad based, income sensitive and sustainable in the long run.
Some people will say that Vermont cannot afford to implement Green Mountain Care, but the truth is that we can’t afford not to. Vermonters are currently seeing about 20 cents of every dollar that they earn go to health care, and we can’t let this burden get any heavier. We’ve been paying too much for too little for too long, and it’s time to get to work putting the funding together for a truly sustainable health care system.
To read the Health Care Reform Financing Plan, click here.
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