KCUR News
(2008-08-26)
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COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
Gubernatorial candidate Kenny Hulshof has introduced a health care plan that he says would cover more Missourians. KBIA's Maureen McCollum reports:
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Two of Missouri's candidates for governor, Republican Kenny Hulshof and Democrat Jay Nixon, agree that a health care plan is needed to cover uninsured Missourians. There are about 700,000 people in Missouri without health insurance. Hulshof introduced his health care plan- Healthy Missouri Access Exchange, or HealthMAX, at a press conference in Columbia today. HealthMAX would increase access to affordable health care through private insurance companies. Hulshof says the program would be offered to state employees and the plan's coverage goes beyond the uninsured.
We're taking this to all Missourians, would have the opportunity to look at the competitive model we're putting forward as far as providing health insurance.
Hulshof estimates the program would cost the state about fifty million dollars. Individuals or businesses could choose among multiple plans and there would be no government mandates, so some could even choose to opt out. Hulshof says for uninsured workers who don't qualify for Medicaid, the state would subsidize health savings accounts. The ninth district congressman says with HealthMAX, insurance companies and coverage plans would not be allowed to discriminate against anyone, even if they have a preexisting condition.
Democratic candidate Jay Nixon's plan for the uninsured focuses on restoring Governor Matt Blunt's 2005 Medicaid cuts, which affected about 60,000 working families in Missouri, according to the Missouri Budget Project. On Tuesday, Hulshof called Nixon's plan to reinstate Medicaid funds old fashioned. Both candidates agree advancements in technology could drive down insurance costs.
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