In 1994, state lawmakers created Kentucky Access, a public insurance option with the intention of lowering premiums and covering more citizens.
Auston McCay, a Bowling Green insurance agent and former state health insurance chairman, helped craft Kentucky Access.
"Kentucky's plan was a trial run for a national plan and when it kind of blew up then very little was said about it later," notes McCay.
Only 4,500 out of 4.2 million Kentuckians signed up.
Hmmm. Why aren't Kentucky elected officials beating down the doors in Congress to communicate the reality of this failed public-option test? Oh, not politically correct. Oh, our elected officials beg for federal dollars.
Worse, maybe the Kentucky legislators like the precedents being set in Washington. They can just put heavy taxes, fines and jail time in their new legislative initiatives to consume any discretionary spending Kentuckians may have left.
Taxes and fines are certainly better options for them than tackling the tough issues driving state costs up unnecessarily. After all it's only our hard-earned money. What do they care? They have some serious spending to do.
1 comment:
They won't speak up because that's not part of the formula. If they speak up they may offend their party leaders! GASP! Or, worse, they may not get re-elected! OH NO!
It takes courage to stand up. We should start electing courageous representatives who will share KY's experiences and explain why the public option won't work!
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