Howard Dean in Governor's State of the State speeches, early 2000s

On Health Care: Universal access for all Vermonters; insure the last 6%

I propose that our achievement-the achievement of this biennium-is to design and implement a better system of health care in Vermont. We have one of the lowest numbers of uninsured citizens in the country. But the fact that you are one of only 6% does not pay the doctor’s bill.

This biennium our goals for health care are finding ways to control costs, helping small businesses afford private coverage for their workers, and making government-guaranteed insurance for children, seniors and working Vermonters sustainable.

This also means assuring access to health care for every Vermont citizen. We will never control costs without universal access. Vermont deserves a health care system where small businesses are not bankrupted by trying to treat their employees responsibly, and Vermont deserves a system where all Vermonters have access to health insurance and to quality care.

Source: State of the State Address to 2001 Vermont General Assembly Jan 4, 2001

On Health Care: Keep “community rating”: insure older people at same rates

Let me talk for a moment about what will not work. Vermont has a system of community rating where all age groups are charged the same for their coverage, despite the fact that older people use more health care than younger people. Some insurance companies left the state because they wanted to avoid insuring older people so they could make plenty of money by only covering low-risk Vermonters. Eliminating community rating will not make health insurance more affordable or accessible. It will simply add on another cost shift, causing those employees over 50 and their employers to pay even more money so that costs can be reduced for those under 35. I don’t believe Vermonters want this solution.

Our challenge is to find solutions that will work. I am appointing a special Governor’s Commission on Health Care Availability and Affordability, to find ways we can achieve the dual goals of controlling costs and guaranteeing universal access.

Source: State of the State Address to 2001 Vermont General Assembly Jan 4, 2001

The above quotations are from Early 2000s Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts from Early 2000s Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts by Howard Dean. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Mar 14, 2021