On Wednesday, state lawmakers and local residents debated at the state Capitol how a path to universal health care can be achieved. All agreed that a large-scale overview was needed to really look at the entire health system to see how universal health care would be achieved. Care may be possible. Walter Carpenter of Montpelier is one of more than 30,000 Vermonters removed from Medicaid last year. “Is it the cost or the life?” How do we figure this out? What do we value most? asked Mr. Carpenter. But Carpenter said he's still paying for it. “It comes out of my paycheck every week,” Carpenter said. According to state officials, 44% of Vermonters under the age of 65 are under the age of 65. But state Rep. Arthur Peterson, R-Rutland, said he sees more harm than good in switching the path to universal health care. He said there are many. “I don't like the idea of having to pay for other people's medical bills,'' Peterson said. Peterson believes the government already pays too much for other people's health care through Medicaid. If universal health care existed, he said, the cost burden would go through the roof for all Vermonters. “We need each and every one of us to dismantle these hugely intertwined systems, and that's going to be very difficult,” Peterson said. Jose Aguayo, chairman of the Vermont Progressive Party of Washington, which supports universal health care, said steps taken to get to that point include lowering the age of eligibility for seniors and extending federal health care to young people. We believe in expanding our scope. ” “If you separate the elderly and the young and balance the risk pool, you will be able to manage the numbers better,” Aguayo said. The caucus has scheduled public meetings at the state Capitol on the last Wednesday of each month through April.
On Wednesday, state lawmakers and local residents debated at the state Capitol how a path to universal health coverage can be achieved.
All agreed that a large-scale overview is needed to really look at the entire health care system to see how universal health care is possible.
Walter Carpenter of Montpelier is one of more than 30,000 Vermonters removed from Medicaid last year.
“Is it cost or lives? How do we figure this out? What do we value most?” Carpenter asked.
But Carpenter said he's still paying for it.
“It comes out of my paycheck every week,” Carpenter said.
According to state officials, 44% of Vermonters under the age of 65 cannot afford their premiums.
But state Rep. Arthur Peterson, R-Rutland, said there are more downsides to changing the path to universal health care than there are benefits.
“I don't like the idea of having to pay for someone else's medical bills,” Peterson says.
Peterson believes the government already pays too much for other people's health care through Medicaid.
He said that if universal health care existed, costs would go through the roof for all Vermonters.
“Providing taxpayer-funded health care to everyone would require dismantling a huge, complex system, and that alone would be extremely difficult,” Peterson said.
Jose Aguayo, chairman of the Vermont Progressive Party in Washington, which supports universal health care, said steps taken to get to that point include lowering the age of eligibility for seniors and increasing federal health insurance for young people. I believe that it is important to expand the scope of application.
“By bringing in older and younger people, we can balance the risk pool and manage the numbers better,” Aguayo said.
The caucus has scheduled public meetings at the state Capitol on the last Wednesday of each month through April.
