Governor Mitt Romney's Op-Ed Focusing on the "Safety Net".

Editor's Note: Following is from the Governor's Press Secretary, selling the Governor's universal healthcare plan. Notice in this interesting piece of sophistry how healthcare leaps right over being a universal entitlement to being a mandated "responsibility" that will carry legal penalties if not acquired by an individual.

Officials on both sides of the aisle have confirmed our firm commitment to accomplish real health care reform this year, pledging that people will come before politics.

My approach is based on several principles. First, private insurance is better, cheaper and more efficient than a government run healthcare scheme. Second, everyone has a responsibility to have health insurance; for those that cannot afford it, government will help, but only to the extent needed, not as an entitlement. Third, government has important roles to play in helping all citizens become insured, from expanding consumer choice to creating incentives and tax benefits.

Who are the uninsured? We’ve grouped them in three pools: 1) Very Low Income who are eligible for Medicaid. 2) Low Income who typically earn one-to-three times the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). And 3) Low-Middle Income who earn above three times FPL. Insuring people in each group requires a solution particular to that group. Let’s look at each.

Very Low Income. We have found that about 106,000 individuals actually qualify for Medicaid but don’t know it. Over the last two years, we have actively found and enrolled some 70,000 people eligible for Medicaid. We’ll sign up the remainder as soon as possible and with the legislature budget the necessary funds to pay for the state share of the cost.

Low Income. Approximately 150,000 of these are uninsured. These people are generally younger and healthier than the average population. The majority are white, high school graduates, who are working, often part time or multiple jobs. In most cases, their employer does not offer insurance. I propose that we create Safety Net Care insurance for these individuals. The insurance will be offered by commercial insurers and have a full complement of health benefits. The premium will be subsidized in part: the individual will pay on a sliding scale, based on income. There will be no deductible and limited co-pays. For routine and preventative care, the insured will be directed to a primary care physician or clinic rather than a more expensive hospital emergency room.

Low-Middle Income. Nearly 200,000 middle income individuals are uninsured. They or their employer can afford to buy insurance if it is reasonably priced. Earlier this year, I offered a plan called Commonwealth Care that opens the market to much lower cost health insurance than is currently available. Chairman Moore and President Travaglini proposed a similar plan. I believe both are major steps forward.

With programs for each of these uninsured groups, Massachusetts can finally see all its citizens insured. There is no need for new or increased taxes; funds that we currently use to pay for the uninsured—almost $1 billion—instead will be used to subsidize insurance premiums, where needed. Medicaid reforms generate further savings. Costs are also reduced when newly insured citizens receive clinic-based preventative care rather than late-stage emergency care. And more people and their employers will be covering or contributing to the cost of their insurance.

My plan also creates incentives for employers to help provide insurance for all their employees, full and part time. And employers will be prohibited from dropping employees from their insurance plans.

Finally my plan calls for a personal responsibility principle: everyone must either become insured or maintain an adequate savings account to cover their medical expenses. We cannot expect some citizens to pay for others who can afford to pay some or all of their own way. With Commonwealth Care and Safety Net Care in place, there will be no reason not to be insured.

In cooperation with Senate President Travaglini and Speaker DiMasi, we have an historic opportunity to make health insurance available to our citizens. Let’s take advantage of it.

Mitt Romney
Governor of Massachusetts