Public Policy: Health Care

VBSR Releases Health Care Survey Results

Employer-Based Health Care Going Away

At a press conference, Tues, Jan 29, at the Statehouse, John Wall, President of furniture manufacturer, WallGoldfinger stood in front of members of the media and VBSR and explained that his health insurance costs are more than the cost of the lease of his 52,000 square foot building, plus all his heat and electric utility costs combined; and that over the past four years, WallGoldfinger has spent over $1M in health insurance premiums to offer benefits to 39 of his employees. Don Mayer of Small Dog Electronics also offered up his story and explained that with some of his positions, health care premiums amount to 35-50% of their total payroll. WallGoldfinger and Small Dog Electronics stories are examples of how benefits being offered to employees of even Vermont's most socially responsible companies are declining in quality and increasing in cost to the employee.

Review Health Care Survey Data Summary

Read media coverage of press conference

Current VBSR Action on Health Care Policy

As a result of the work of the Health Care Action Team, VBSR members, staff and board members, held a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier to release the results of the VBSR health care survey along with the conclusions that the system can no longer depend on employer-sponosred insurance as its backbone.. VBSR called for the legislature and the Governor to fully explore a publicly financed health care system. Other immediate action steps should include streamling system administation, eliminating wasteful duplication of facilities and services, and avoiding further fragmentation of the insurance pool.

Since 1992, VBSR has argued that health care is an economic development issue.. The fact that our businesses have had to cope with 10% increases in health care premiums every year since 2003 is proof. We call for de-coupling health insurance from employment and for public financing based on ability to pay.

VBSR formed a Health Care Action Team in the summer of 2007 and we will continue to inform ourselves and advocate to policy-making about the necessary changes to the current system. Please be in touch with Andrea if you want to get involved in this effort .

Legislative Activity

Bills we are followingduring the 2008 legislative session include:

H. 304 The Vermont Hospital Security Plan. This plan is currently in House Health.

The House and Senate Health Committee's are currently creating committee bills to address revisions to Catamount Health and implementation of chronic care initiaitves.