Issue Position: Healthcare Costs

Issue Position

Health care costs. Over my years of healthcare advocacy, I've met thousands of locals scared to go without insurance but financially unable to pay for it - up front as insurance or later through the costs of under-insurance - without sacrificing other essential activities in their lives. This is wrong and is shackling to individuals trying to save for retirement, families trying to meet basic needs and entrepreneurs who cannot start a business because they can't afford health care insurance on their own.

A Common Sense Agenda

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The community rating system contributes to our rates being 25% more here than the front range even though we live in the same state. This is wrong! I will work to combine our rates to one for Colorado and save people money.

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Thousands of people are losing their employer sponsored health care due to layoff and cannot afford to get it on their own. I support laid off workers being enrolled in Colorado Health First (our Medicaid) until they go back to work.

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10% of Coloradans still have no coverage. One of the big pushbacks for uninsured people getting help is that they do not have a primary doctor. I will advocate for outreach to these people to get them connected to primary doctors close to them and to get them information about Federally Qualified Health Centers who can help uninsured people. These are often the same people who walk into emergency rooms with stage 4 conditions because they could not afford to go to the doctor. This is wrong and we must have a better system.

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Seniors moving to a new area often have a terrible time finding a primary doctor as practices will not accept them. I will work to move them to the top of the list for acceptance for care. They often have serious conditions that cannot wait.

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Gaps in out-of-network travel imperil even the well-insured. We must work toward a health care system that covers everyone affordably everywhere they travel in the U.S.

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