Approximately 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are without health insurance, and in excess of 2 million more are underinsured - unable to afford co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs of healthcare when they fall ill. I will work for the passage of HB 1660 which will provide comprehensive affordable healthcare to every legal resident of the Commonwealth while saving our state, our local governments, our school boards, our businesses, and our citizens billions of dollars a year that can be used to strengthen our economy and infrastructure.
This legislation is especially crucial to Lancaster County where the percentage of residents who are uninsured is 39% higher than the Pennsylvania average.
It is estimated that passage of this legislation will create 140,000 new high-paying Pennsylvania jobs.
Data I helped collect using the Pennsylvania Open Records Act demonstrates that the governments and school boards of Pennsylvania would have reduced the cost of providing healthcare to their employees by more than $2.3 billion dollars. Lancaster County would have saved more than $62 million. The governments and School Boards of PA 41 which I seek to represent in the State Legislature would have saved nearly $18 million. Similar savings would be realized by most residents and business owners of Lancaster County, and the savings would be even greater today because health insurance premiums continue to rise at unprecedented levels.
It is time to reign in the Health insurance companies that continue to hit individuals and small business in Pennsylvania with exorbitant premium increases as high as 50% this year alone. Governor Rendell has pointed out that "This level of increase is not about passing on increases in health spending, which average in the 5 percent to 10 percent range; this is about companies trying to get the highest possible rates before the federal reforms take effect."
The bill passed in Washington this year proves that we can reform health care, but those reforms do not go nearly far enough. We can lead the way to true reform here in Pennsylvania by becoming the first state to pass true universal, comprehensive, affordable healthcare. I am committed to that effort.
34 of the 50 members of the Pennsylvania Senate (including all 20 Democrats) have co-sponsored a resolution to fund an Economic Impact Study of this legislation, but the Leadership refuses to release the resolution to the floor for a vote. This is nothing but a nod to special interests that place profits ahead of the health of our citizens. A handful of Legislators in Leadership positions should not be permitted to thwart the will of 68% of the Senate. Taxpayers should express their outrage at this manipulation of the legislative process.
I might add that every member of the Pennsylvania Legislature enjoys comprehensive medical and dental coverage for themselves and their families with no deductibles, minimal co-pays, and a $6 cap on prescription drugs. The entire cost of these benefits is borne by the tax payers of Pennsylvania. I do not begrudge them their excellent coverage because I believe comprehensive healthcare should be a basic human right, but I believe it is the height of hypocrisy for any member of the Legislature to balk at providing that same coverage to his or her constituents. HB 1660 will provide comprehensive healthcare to every man, woman and child in the Commonwealth, including members of the Legislature, their families, and their staffs, and everyone will pay their fair share including the members of the Legislature (3% of total income with no deductibles or co-pays, and no charge for prescription drugs).