GOP lawmakers to propose health insurance plan
April Washington, Rocky Mountain News
Published January 10, 2007 at midnight
Coloradans would be able to select affordable health insurance plans online under a proposed bill by House Republicans that will be unveiled today.
The measure would create the Colorado Health Care Connector, a state benefits program that would link residents to affordable health insurance plans, including Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
"To create a new government program to take care of the 17 percent of residents without insurance just drives up costs," Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said. "My goal is to create a free-market plan whereby insurance companies could compete for those who are uninsured."
The measure would require insurance providers that offer "small group health insurance and accident coverage in Colorado to file affordable health care plans with the state."
The state would operate a Web site to give Coloradans access to the private health plans.
Gov. Bill Ritter signaled in his inaugural speech on Tuesday that he would push for a universal health care system to cover uninsured residents - a concept the GOP opposes.
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