How does this sound? Full medical insurance for every man, woman, and child whether you have a job or not with no co-payments and no deductibles. On November 5, voters in Oregon will approve or reject a bold new state-wide universal health care plan--the first of its kind in the United States.
It would be funded by a new payroll tax of up to 11.5 percent on businesses and an increase in personal income taxes. The top tax rate would rise from the current 9 percent to as high as 17 percent, reports The Associated Press. But the cost of higher taxes would be offset for individuals and families because they could ditch their private health insurance. No more bi-weekly or monthly premiums to pay, no more co-payments, no more deductibles, no more out-of-pocket expenses. The plan has strong and vocal critics--business, insurance, and health care industry groups--who complain that it is far too generous. For example, the Oregon plan covers the cost of acupuncture and massage therapy if it's prescribed by a state-licensed, certified, or registered health-care practitioner. Currently about 423,000 of the Oregon's 3.3 million residents have no health insurance at all, including 70,000 children. Critics also think it will lead to uncontrolled spending and could actually wreck the state's economy. Those who support the measure hope it will pass in Oregon and then lead to similar efforts in other states.
It would be funded by a new payroll tax of up to 11.5 percent on businesses and an increase in personal income taxes. The top tax rate would rise from the current 9 percent to as high as 17 percent, reports The Associated Press. But the cost of higher taxes would be offset for individuals and families because they could ditch their private health insurance. No more bi-weekly or monthly premiums to pay, no more co-payments, no more deductibles, no more out-of-pocket expenses. The plan has strong and vocal critics--business, insurance, and health care industry groups--who complain that it is far too generous. For example, the Oregon plan covers the cost of acupuncture and massage therapy if it's prescribed by a state-licensed, certified, or registered health-care practitioner. Currently about 423,000 of the Oregon's 3.3 million residents have no health insurance at all, including 70,000 children. Critics also think it will lead to uncontrolled spending and could actually wreck the state's economy. Those who support the measure hope it will pass in Oregon and then lead to similar efforts in other states.
