State lawmakers have failed Math 101

As I dig through what I've written or commented on in the past I sometimes find little gems like this. I saved this from a July of 2006. This is proof that our lawmakers have indeed failed basic Math skills and can not be trusted with our tax money.

From the Pioneer Press

ST. PAUL - Providing health coverage for all 383,000 uninsured Minnesotans would cost state taxpayers $663 million to $852 million a year, health officials said Thursday in the first such estimate in recent years.

But it could also relieve hospitals and clinics from about $250 million a year in uncompensated care, according to the report from the state Health Department's health economics program. The figures are preliminary and don't reflect the details of any specific proposals.

---
Huh?? Can anyone in office do basic math? How is it better to spend $663 to $852 million dollars a year to prevent a $250 million dollar short fall. Why not just give $250 million a year to the hospitals and clinics to cover their losses and save the tax payers $213 to $602 million dollars a year? Our elected officials are morons. And, no, I do not think giving money to the various hospitals and clinics is a good idea either, but it's not as expensive as their idea.

Wil
-------

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hep/publications/coverage/uninsurecost.pdf

The Gov.'s Health Cabinet requested the calculations to get a better handle on the cost of universal health insurance, said Human Services Commissioner Cal Ludeman, who heads the cabinet.

"A lot of the debate hasn't been informed about that," Ludeman said. "Are we talking 100 million dollars or 10 billion dollars? Turns out it's somewhere in between."

The report looked at two options - extending the subsidized MinnesotaCare program for the working poor or subsidizing the cost of private insurance for the uninsured.

Expanding MinnesotaCare would carry an annual price tag of $1.6 billion - but more than half would be covered by premiums and a federal match, leaving the state to pay about $663 million.

Buying private insurance policies for the uninsured would cost about $1.4 billion, but the state's cost would be offset by enrollee premiums and could be cut further by qualifying for federal funds. Without federal help, it would cost the state $852 million a year.

Full coverage would probably require a mandate that individuals enroll in health plans, the report said.

Health experts are watching as Massachusetts implements a first-in-the-nation mandate for everyone to have health coverage. A bid by Minnesota Senate Democrats to amend the state constitution to guarantee health care for all failed this year.

About 234,000 Minnesotans are considered to be long-term uninsured, while another 149,000 have been without health insurance for less than a year. The figures include 66,000 children.

Covering everyone might lead to higher medical costs as more people use the health care system, the report said. Ludeman said the Health Cabinet also plans to look at whether universal coverage would cause some employers to drop health insurance for their workers.

The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/15136296.htm (c) 2006 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.