The 411 on Measure 101
VG endorsed the Yes on 101 campaign last month. You can read more about why this measure matters to Virginia Garcia patients in these Letters to the Editor, submitted by VG employees, and published in the last few weeks:
INFORMATION ON MEASURE 101
What Measure 101 does:
Measure 101 puts before the voters essential portions of the provider assessments passed by the legislature for the 2017-2019 budget. Per the official fiscal impact statement, Measure 101 is “to pay for health care for low-income adults, children and families and individual with disabilities, and to stabilize health insurance premiums paid by individuals and families.”
Specifically, Measure 101 is the legislatively passed .7% of the assessment for DRG (large) hospitals and the 1.5% assessment on health insurance companies, coordinated care organizations and the Public Employees Benefits Board to fund Medicaid. A portion of the insurance company assessment also funds the state reinsurance program.
According to the official financial estimate, if the measure passes, health care and the reinsurance program are funded as adopted by the legislature. If Measure 101 doesn’t pass, there will be a reduction of between $210-$320 million general fund dollars. For Medicaid that would also mean a reduction matching federal funds. Per the financial estimate, “The total revenue reduction to the 2017-2019 state budgeted may be $840million – $1.3 billion or more.”
Can the shortfall be made up elsewhere?
The bill Measure 101 comes from – HB 2391 – was the result of months of negotiations between healthcare stakeholders and lawmakers. It is the best policy that does the most good for the most people. It is the best policy for ratepayers, taxpayers, and everyone who counts on Medicaid/OHP for coverage. Making up the budget shortfall would require cuts to education, public safety, senior services, child welfare, or other essential services.
How does Measure 101 lower premiums for people who buy their own insurance?
The state reinsurance program funded by HB 2391 helps cover the cost of paying for the very sick. This program was approved by the federal government, which committed $30 million annually to the program.
The 2018 rates that were approved after passage of HB 2391, the Department of Business and Consumer Services lowered individual premiums a net 6% – or about $300 a year – because of the newly funded reinsurance program. That helps about 210,000 people. Small
group plans, which have been much more stable over the past several years, increased about $5 per month. For 2018, the reinsurance program is funded by one-time funds. For 2019, it will be funded by the insurance company assessment in Measure 101.
Is there a way to volunteer?
Yes, visit the Yes for Healthcare website to learn about way s to get involved or complete this form.
