Bianca Slota – WCAX News
Scanning the Vermont House chamber Tuesday night it was pretty obvious which side of the healthcare debate most of the attendees were on. A majority of the more than 120 people who signed up to speak during the joint hearing of the House Health committee and Senate Health and Welfare committees told lawmakers they support establishing a single-payer healthcare system in Vermont.
"I believe the single-payer system is the way we can achieve comprehensive, high quality healthcare for all Americans," said Elaine Lucier, of Berlin.
They argued it would make healthcare accessible and fair to all Vermonters by eliminating health insurance premiums and by detaching it from employment status.
"Many years ago I thought I had planned for the future and paid the higher retirement payment which would allow me to retire at age 55 but I won’t be able to retire because I need the insurance," said Reid Webster, of Westminster.
They also argued it would eliminate wasteful spending by eliminating administrative costs associated with private insurance billing. Deborah Richter, a physician in Cambridge, said she could see 20 percent more patients if she did not have to do as much paperwork. She made her point by printing out a list of every insurance company her small practice deals with. It stretched from one side of the house chamber to the other.
"These are just the addresses, and each of these insurance companies has a different rules, reimbursement and regulations," said Richter.
Despite the overwhelming majority in favor of a single-payer system not all are convinced. A handful of people spoke against the change. They said a government-run system will lead to rationing and higher taxes for all.
"The state has a 150 million dollar deficit and the federal government’s deficit is in the trillions. Where is all of this money going to come from to pay for healthcare and what happens when the state runs over its global budget while people still need essential care? Will they have to wait until the next fiscal year?" Burlington resident Angela Chagnon questioned.
Lawmakers in Vermont have debated a single-payer system before. Some question why again now when the federal government is in the midst of a healthcare overhaul that is sure to change healthcare in the state.