Blaine House hopefuls

Jonathan Carter has proposed and consistently argued that his single-payer, total choice, total coverage health care plan will insure all Maine citizens while saving Maine more than $400 million. He has also explained how he will fund this plan by reducing administrative costs and streamlining all services through the creation of a Health Security Board. Conversely, Democratic contender John Baldacci has failed to tell Mainers how he would pay for his hybrid, “single-payer” health care plan.

Carter’s plan will provide total coverage and total choice to all Mainers, cover the cost of prescription medications, decrease the cost of health care to businesses by more than two-thirds and provide stability in health care expenses. This will attract new businesses to Maine, increasing economic development.

Also, this plan covers the health care needs of veterans at Maine hospitals while providing home health care services, eyeglasses and hearing aids to those in need. Carter’s plan also saves at least 50 percent on workers’ compensation costs, provides portability of services across state lines, provides equality of treatment, calls for prevention programs that will improve the general health of Maine citizens, consolidates health care costs and creates a “Family of Maine” group policy. Maine health care will not be owned and operated by large insurance agencies.

This plan generates increased spending power for Maine citizens. According to the Maine Health Care Reform Commission, a total of $523 million, or 14.7 percent, of total health care expenditures were direct out-of-pocket costs paid by Mainers. Also, health care premiums currently paid by Maine citizens will remain in their pockets.

How would Baldacci pay for his plan? We don’t know because he has repeatedly failed to disclose this information. Carter clearly has the best health care plan and he has also told us how he will fund it.

Andrew J. Levesque

Caribou