Opponents will say that the MN Health Plan will drive up taxes. Aren the premiums we would be paying actually taxes?
Unlike taxes, these premiums do not go to the state treasury; they go directly to the MN Health Plan, and can be spent only to pay for health care. They cannot be taken by the governor or legislature and cannot be used to balance the state budget or pay for anything else. Keep in mind that health care is now one-sixth of the entire economy. Funding the MHP isn’t like adding some additional taxes to pay for some new government program or service. We are talking about restructuring how we finance one-sixth of our economy, most of which is and would remain in the private sector. We are simply shifting the premiums that people pay, from their current health plan, to the MN Health Plan. Likewise, employers would now be paying their share to the MN Health Plan. These premiums would replace all premiums, co-pays, deductibles and out of pocket expenses currently spent for health care.
Related Questions
- Are there programs available to help pay for individuals’ health plan premiums while they are in the process of enrolling for the HCTC?
- Should a patient ever seek medical care outside their health plan even if it means paying out-of-pocket?
- How Do You Get The ARRA Stimulus Plan Reductions For COBRA Insurance Premiums?
