Health care executives ask Lamont to halt legislation proposing public option for health insurance
"Bills of this magnitude, representing a fundamental and material change to insurance market operations and regulation, require careful and thoughtful consideration to avoid unintended consequences that could have a deleterious effect on job growth and economic development," the executives wrote.
The executives said they appreciate Lamont's efforts to improve the bill, known as the Connecticut Option. But they asked the governor to "forestall further action until the goals and objectives can be better quantified and the proposal can be subjected to more rigorous review and analysis."
Lamont and Democratic leaders of the
The cost of this expansion of government-sponsored health insurance is not yet clear, but if fully implemented the price could be in the tens of millions of dollars or more annually.
The letter, dated last Thursday and obtained Tuesday by The Courant, is signed by
Lamont said the state will have two years to put in place the subsidized health care program if it is enacted before the legislative session ends
"Look, I think we've put together a good Connecticut Option led by private insurers," the governor said. "This is going to improve quality and lower rates for folks. It's going to lower rates for small business. It's really important. I'd like to see it get passed."
Rep.
Talks continued into
"The conversations have been ongoing. They never stopped," said Scanlon, D-
House Speaker
The legislation proposes to tax opioids, establish an individual mandate with a penalty for not participating, authorize the comptroller to establish rates for a new provider network to support a health care program and would impose surcharges on individual and group health insurance policies.
The executives said they believe that providing quality, affordable health care is a core value and critical to economic growth.
"Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, we cannot support the Connecticut Option legislation as currently drafted," they said.
Businesses, health insurers and others have cited a recent study by the
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