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Improving Access to Health Care
Every Minnesotan should have access to quality, affordable health care. Health care should be considered a right, not a luxury. Unfortunately for many Minnesotans forced to choose between rising health care costs, rising transportation costs, rising property taxes, rising heating costs and other needs, health care coverage is not an option. This should never be a choice that Minnesotans are made to make. Fortunately, Minnesota has one of the highest coverage rates in the nation. In 2001 Minnesota had the highest coverage of any state in the nation. We have made efforts that we should be proud of, towards covering every child in the state, towards treating mental health care as part of standard health care coverage. This is one of our states biggest strengths. Its what makes our state successful economically and in terms of quality of life. Unfortunately, there are a number of problems with the current system. Health care costs have increased by more than three and half times the average wage increase. The health care and insurance industry have made record profits while insurance premiums have skyrocketed. Many Minnesotans, especially the vulnerable and elderly have to choose which prescriptions to fill for their chronic illnesses. Minnesotans shouldn't have to pick from their required prescriptions when low-cost alternatives exist. This is leading to a decline in the number of adults who elect to have medical insurance throughout the state. Many small businesses cannot afford to bear the costs of health insurance. Small business owners are not allowed to pool their health care premiums with other small business owners which has led to a number of smaller businesses leaving health insurance up to the individual. Fortunately, residents of Minnesota have options. Medical Assistance, General Assistance Medical Care, MinnesotaCare, the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, and the Public Employees Insurance Pool—cover about 11 percent of the state's non elderly population. Many of these people are covered through the state because small businesses have too few options to organize and pool their costs. Ultimately tax payers pay for the uninsured through the most expensive health care available, through our over-burdened emergency rooms. Emergency room visits become the only option for a family with limited income, no insurance or without consulting with a doctor when a condition is minor. Well care visits allow doctors to catch illnesses before they become painful, chronic and infectious. When these well-care visits are only available to some Minnesotans, we become a state with two health care systems--a great one if you can afford it, and a terrible system for those that can't This is no way to access the health care that people need. Minnesota needs a health care policy in our state which: Increases coverage for more Minnesotans with universal coverage as a goal .
Universal health coverage is a quality of life issue in our state. We can
achieve this goal with a graduated increase in coverage for the uninsured and a
focus on cost-savings. In fact Medicare is five times more efficient than any
private insurance company. Minnesota can develop a low-cost high-value health
system that works toward making our state once again a leader in health savings. Reduce the administrative costs of health care. Focus health care on preventative health which is much cheaper than treating avoidable illnesses. Well doctor care is far cheaper than the Emergency room. A state that insures its people and focuses its health care on helping with illnesses early on will see a huge health care savings, and happier, safer Minnesotans. Its time to Stand up for a health care system that values Minnesotans! There is no doubt that bureaucracy, waste and profit-making is a big part of the health care crisis in the state. Our state can do a better job of monitoring the practices of our Health Insurance industry, and regulate the industry to maintain sane practices within the industry. |
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