Maine’s Bureau of Insurance has certified that Dirigo Health reforms have saved the state of Maine over $100 million in their first three years, and this year’s savings has been determined to be approximately $49 million.

The funding derives, in part, from small taxes on beer, wine, and soft drinks. At the same time, the law lowers the taxes on health insurance claims. Not surprisingly, the beer, wine, and soft drink industries are up in arms, because they fear that other states might do what Maine did. The industry got a referendum on the November ballot to repeal the small taxes.

The DirigoChoice program has served 28,000 hardworking Maine families and small businesses since it began. The average cost per member per year is $2,700 with a similar comprehensive health insurance policy in Maine costing over $5,000 per person per year.

DirigoChoice is designed to help subsidize premiums for people under 300 percent of the federal poverty level on a sliding scale, thus leading to more coverage for more people. The Dirigo product is unique in the marketplace with full coverage for preventive care, mental health parity and no barriers on pre-existing conditions.

The program has worked. The funding has not. That is precisely why the new law must be saved and people must vote “no” on question 1.

Bill & Marilyn Voorhies

West Tremont