Judge Releases Plan Moving Iowa Towards Universal Health Care Coverage

[IA_Seth]

Sorry, no link...this is from an email I received from Judge's campaign:

Patty Judge Releases Plan Moving Iowa Towards Universal Health Care Coverage
Making health insurance affordable for all Iowans

Des Moines, IA – Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge, Democratic candidate for Governor, today released a detailed plan to provide affordable health insurance to all Iowans.

“The most important issue facing our next Governor will be providing health insurance for all Iowans. I intend to make it the number one issue in a Judge Administration,” stated Judge. “For too long too many Iowans have gone without health insurance. Today we begin to put an end to such a shameful reality,”

Judge’s plan calls for increasing the Hawk-I enrollment threshold from 200 to 250 percent for children. Moreover, she proposes opening Hawk-I to parents of children enrolled in or eligible for the program at the same threshold level. Judge also wants Hawk-I to cover prenatal and postpartum treatment for women without health insurance in Iowa. Finally, Judge proposes using 20 percent of the Grow Iowa Values Fund to help new small businesses provide health care coverage to their employees.

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She doesn't say how she'd pay for it, but I am still glad there is a candidate discussing it.

[Debi]

1. My only question is where would the $$ come from

But I like the idea that candidates are talking about covering adults as well as children (remember - Chet said it a couple of weeks ago).

I don't know (for children) how this plan is any different than Blouin's?

I wish we could scrap Grow Iowa Values Fund and use the money straight out - It's taxpayer dollars, why not let taxpayers use it? - Why do we give taxpayer dollars to businesses so that businesses can buy in to health care plans for their employees? Why not give tax dollars to people to help purchase their own insurance or use the tax dollars to create a health care program?

We are definately heading in a good direction though!

[IA_Seth]

2. Agreed

I think the Grow Iowa Values Fund should be looked at very closely as to whether or not its worth the money being dumped into it. I think it could be argued that it has done a lot to bring jobs to the state, but how well do those jobs pay? Are they union jobs? Are the jobs spread out over Iowa, or are they cocentrated in one specific region (Des Moines)?

If all Iowa taxpayers fund the GIVF, then all Iowans should have the opportunity to benefit from it.

I think the only way a lot of these grand ideas that are being tossed about will be paid for is if we cut the GIVF.

Edited for grammar: I hate that when that happens.

[Debi]

3. Stop it, Seth, you're sounding so....progressive. n/t