"Yes" on Coloradocare Amendment 69

Amendment 69 will be on the ballot this fall as a citizens' initiative to create a program of universal health care for Coloradans, called “ColoradoCare” (www.ColoradoCare.org). I was honored to be the chairperson of the committee that drafted this amendment. We currently spend over $30 billion each year on health care in Colorado. This figure includes the cost of health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, administrative expenses, and of course, actual health care. If Amendment 69 passes, it will be funded by $25 billion in taxes, thus providing a savings of nearly $5 billion per year. There will be no insurance premiums, no deductibles, and no co-pays for primary or preventive care. ColoradoCare will be governed by a 21-member Board of Trustees elected from seven districts. It will not be part of the state government, but instead be an independent body operated as a cooperative business by the residents of Colorado. Medicare will not be affected, except that supplemental coverage (with no deductibles) will be included under ColoradoCare. Medicaid benefits will remain the same with provider reimbursements increasing to the same level as reimbursements for non-Medicaid patients. ColoradoCare will also cover the medical reimbursement portion of workers’ compensation.