ICYMI: State Government Option ‘Isn’t The Answer’

HARTFORD, Conn. – In a new op-ed featured in the Republican-American, Lynn Ward, president and CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber, voices her opposition to a state government-controlled health insurance system in Connecticut, known as the state government option.

Ward notes that the state government option could “raise the cost of health care” while “undermining the private coverage market and threatening nearly 25,000 Connecticut jobs.”

Ward continues: “Small business owners in our region and across Connecticut are already facing major economic hardships and don’t need the added burden of higher costs … Our state’s families and small business owners should not be held responsible for subsidizing risky plans, particularly during this time of economic instability.”

Meanwhile, a new poll conducted by Locust Street Group on behalf of Connecticut’s Health Care Future finds that a majority of Connecticut voters do not support the proposed state government option and are satisfied with their current health coverage and care. The poll of 800 likely voters in Connecticut reveals that a majority want lawmakers to build on and improve the current health care system rather than start over with a new state government-controlled health insurance system such as the state government option.

The poll’s key findings include:

  • A majority of Connecticut voters do NOT support the state government option (only 36 percent support).
  • 80 percent of voters prefer for lawmakers to BUILD ON Connecticut’s health care system rather than create a new state government option.
  • Voters are especially CONCERNED about the impacts of the state government option on access to quality care (77 percent), jobs/economic growth (74 percent), and costs (72 percent).
  • 82 percent of voters are UNWILLING to pay more in health care costs and 78 percent are UNWILLING to pay more in taxes to finance the cost of the state option.

In fact, the poll shows that during this critical time Connecticut voters want state lawmakers to focus on jobs and the economy: 60 percent of voters ranked the economy and jobs as one of their two most important issues for the state government to address, while 48 percent ranked taxes as one of their top two most important issues. Only 30 percent of voters believe health care is among the two most important issues for state lawmakers to address.

  • To read the full op-ed, CLICK HERE.
  • To learn more about Connecticut’s Health Care Future, CLICK HERE.