I have carefully read Amendment 69 (ColoradoCare), the 52-page pamphlet from ColoradoCareYes and attended two ColoradoCareYes seminars.
I have concluded the following:
Critical funding for ColoradoCare depends on the continuation of Obamacare. Changes or the termination of Obamacare, which seem possible and likely, jeopardize the ColoradoCare project.
ColoradoCareYes estimates that transitional taxes of $2 billion per year will be collected before final approval, implementation and benefits. Processing delays extend the period of time that taxes will be collected prior to benefits.
During this transition period, however long, Coloradans will need to fund their own health care. I think about Lake Nighthorse and The Bridge to Nowhere.
ColoradoCare exempts itself from TABOR (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights). The pamphlet from ColoradoCareYes projects $4.5 billion in annual savings after implementation. Without TABOR there is no restriction on this $4.5 billion. I assume that the funds could easily be diverted to the General Fund rather than refunded to taxpayers or stay with ColoradoCare. If the surplus projections are correct, I ask two questions: Why are the ongoing taxes so high and why not repay Coloradans for their transitional taxes?
Obamacare makes ColoradoCare possible by transferring both sizable Medicaid funding and programs to ColoradoCare. Medicaid currently pays about 40 percent of the cost of nursing home care ($85,000 annually per person in Durango).
The ColoradoCareYes pamphlet clearly includes long-term care services as a benefit. Amendment 69 (ColoradoCare) clearly omits that coverage – a glaring contradiction. Who will provide care and funding for the indigent?
I am not opposed to the goal of this project, but it seems to be poorly thought out. It is an additional burden to the taxpayer, its funding is tenuous and it represents a threat to the indigent elderly.
Mark Wherry
Durango
