[Winona Online Democracy]
Bob and others
The information that I received today indicates that even with the Governor's "proposed" reduction we in Minnesota would be doing the same for singles and more for the others than all our surrounding states. While the need should be addressed do Minnesota taxpayers need to attract people to relocate to Minnesota because of our generosity? I have not seen this date in print but if this in not the case I would welcome the hard data that would say it is not the case. I would also again separate the health care issue from insurance since lower prices for those 20 percent without insurance may enable quality care and ones ability to pay directly for their care or with a short term loan. We allow low cost subsidized loans for a college education, for those who need it, but wouldn't it make as much sense to lend money health care since a health body, over one lifetime provide a greater return on the investment. We all need the market to respond and offer "catastrophic healthcare/asset protection", not "High Deductible" with the option that federal tax policy reflects that all of us are expected to pay 7.5% annually of our taxable income for healthcare or it is not considered a hardship. I believe most would also agree that there are a small number of people who have major catastrophic healthcare expense ($50,000 or more in a year) or those who are unable to work because of disability or age that should not be covered by a government program. Addressing the needs if of those two groups would be cost effective and greatly reduce the debate and the bottom line of the "non-profit" insurance oligopoly. Paul Double -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bob Sebo Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 4:13 PM To: Winona on line (WOD) Subject: [Winona] Health Care Karen and Keith and all... I am troubled by the governor's proposed budget reductions in health care. Telling childless adults they need not apply for state subsidized health insurance sounds like discrimination to me (but then I see that all over the capitol). It is, more importantly, dumb. Don't you think we pay for the uninsured when they visit emergency rooms and cost twenty times as much to cure as if they'd gone to a family practice doctor two weeks or two months earlier? The Adith Miller Fund isn't paying for all uncompensated care...overall costs are inflated to accomodate expected unbillables. Rachelle Schultz or any Winona Health types feel free to correct me if I am wrong... Higher costs...higher insurance premiums...more people can't afford them...more uninsured. In less than ten years the number of uninsured residents in the Winona area has doubled to twenty percent (that number comes from Winona Health's community survey released this month)! Since employers are no longer offering coverage to the extent they once did, I would think government would need to be the provider of last resort. It will save money in the long run. We should create a corporate tax structure that offers incentives to employers to offer health insurance. Doesn't look like we've got that kind of environment going now. Unfortunately, all the administration appears to be concerned with is making this biennium look pretty and the hell with the long haul. Do you realize that state budget forecasters are FORBIDDEN BY LAW to say how inflation will impact deficit projections? That's running state government like a business, by golly. It's been a while since I posted, so I thought I would weigh in. As for Keith's suggestion that this is a natural way for churches and familes to step in...I would say they already do. But in today's highly regimented health care reality, non-professionals cannot provide services that are provided in clinics and hospitals. Support services, yes...critical care services, no. On a related note, we Sebos and Krages have a tradition of caring for the infirm in our family our selves when possible...but not all families have the resources that we have. Penny wise, pound foolish. Bob Sebo Winona
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