NJ Jumps In

New Jersey is about to jump in the "health insurance for all pool". How many is that now? I am losing track.

Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, New York and now New Jersey. Who am I leaving out?

Massachusetts is closer than anyone, having passed the legislation. Already they are having second thoughts about the cost of the plan to the taxpayer.

Imagine that.

So what is the Garden State planning?

Declaring that public health costs are out of control, New Jersey has joined a growing number of states - including Pennsylvania - that are hammering out plans for universal health insurance.

Public health costs are out of control. So what is their plan to reign them in?

Put more folks in to the system.

Gov. Corzine and legislative leaders say that once they finish their property-tax overhaul, the issue will take center stage in Trenton. But as with tax reform, insuring the uninsured is a concept that is widely praised - and difficult to execute.

Difficult to execute.

No kidding.

Under preliminary proposals, all New Jersey residents would be required to have health insurance - and could enroll in plans subsidized by the state

Subsidized by the state.

Translation: paid for by the taxpayers. You know, the ones who just saw their property taxes "reformed".

Instead of proposing a single bill or starting with a big public announcement, "we're putting meat on the bone," Vitale said. Last year, he convened a working group to study the issue; the group includes two members of the Corzine administration.

Depending on federal dollars, Vitale said he hoped to begin with an expansion of the state's FamilyCare program, which insures nearly 700,000 low-income children and families.


Depending on federal dollars. Where does the federal government get their money?

From you & me.

Why can't states solve their OWN problems without messing with folks in other parts of the country who also have problems within state boundaries that need addressing? Why are the uninsured in NJ more important than the uninsured in TX?

This idea of relying on the fed's to support a program is just nuts.

In Pennsylvania, state officials say a health-insurance plan proposed by Gov. Rendell would primarily be paid for by employer and worker contributions, federal grants and increased tobacco taxes.

Though many states are trying, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont are the only three that have enacted universal coverage laws.

Maine & Vermont. Somehow I missed those.

That up's the tally to 7 states. Almost all in the Northeast. Wonder why their problems are any worse than other parts of the country?

Are they more progressive, or just the ones who want to whine more?