Florida’s
Uninsured
The average family pays
about $1,186 a year in
“hidden taxes” through
health insurance premiums
to cover the uninsured. |
Why Does it Matter? |
The U.S. has the best healthcare
system in the world. Our
medical professionals and facilities
can bring about cures that were
unimaginable just a few years ago.
Nevertheless, the number of
uninsured in Florida and throughout
the country continues to grow.
As a society, we need to concentrate
our efforts on those who want
coverage, but can’t get it. Often,
they work for owners of small
businesses who would like to
purchase group policies but can’t
because the cost of premiums is
beyond their reach.
The inability to offer health
insurance as a benefit puts small
businesses at a disadvantage in the
market for qualified, experienced
employees. In addition, taxpayers
and businesses that do have
insurance end up paying for the
care that is provided to the
uninsured when they can’t pay
their bills.
|
Providing affordable health
coverage for all Floridians is
a concern that AIF and the
state have addressed in a number
of ways in recent legislative sessions.
Unfortunately, with rising
health care costs, the number of uninsured
in the state continues to
grow — from 16.8% in 1999 to over 19.2% in 2004. Almost one in five Floridians
under age 65 is without health insurance; half a million of them are
children.
All Floridians pay a price for the uninsured. A recent New American
Foundation white paper estimates the average family pays about $1,186 a
year in “hidden taxes” through health insurance premiums to cover the
uninsured. Further, businesses are impacted directly as escalating health
care costs put American goods and services at a competitive disadvantage
and slow economic growth.
Recently, political leaders at state and federal levels have begun discussions
of providing coverage to the uninsured. Solutions range from requiring
all citizens to purchase private health coverage to expanding coverage
for the working poor through publicly funded Medicare or Medicaid programs.
According to a January 17th Florida Today article, Florida’s newly
appointed Surgeon General and Secretary of the Department of Health, Dr.
Ana M. Viamonte Ros, has spoken enthusiastically of a plan that mandates
health insurance for everyone. Modeled after a California plan championed
by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, this proposal would provide universal
health coverage for all Floridians.
AIF urges the Legislature to move cautiously on this issue. Mandating
coverage is a costly endeavor for those who can’t afford it. Forcing additional
costs on businesses may drive some of our small employers out of
business. We have already seen the courts throw out laws that would mandate
large employers to offer health insurance to their employees, as they
did with the Maryland law that would have required employers with more
than 10,000 employees to spend at least 8% of their payroll on health benefits.
Increasing health insurance premiums merely increases the “hidden
tax” on Floridians. Harming our business climate is not the best approach
to this issue. Focusing only on addressing the uninsured ignores the deeper
problem of controlling health care costs and improving quality care. |
