Should We All Just Move to Vermont? Vermont Senate Passes Universal Healthcare Bill

The State of Vermont is well on its way to becoming the first state in the union with universal healthcare for all residents.  The Vermont Senate has now approved 21-9 a bill which would set up government-funded health insurance for all Vermont state residents.  After going to conference committee, the bill will go to the governor for signature.  Vermont’s Governor Peter Shumlin has been a major supporter of the universal healthcare legislation.

In line with federal healthcare reform, the Senate Bill calls for setting up a health care marketplace, called an exchange. It also sets up a board that would review and approve designs for a publicly financed program available to all residents.  However, since the federal healthcare reform doesn’t address contemplate the possibility of a state going to a universal healthcare system, Vermont would still have to seek a waiver from federal healthcare reform.  President Obama offered waivers to states to implement their own health care systems if the state’s plan covers as many people as the federal overhaul at the same level of coverage, and if it doesn’t add to the federal deficit.

Important details, like *ahem* how this is going to be paid for, are still put off for two years, however, so we still don’t know exactly how this is going to work, but you can be sure that we’re following the developments Vermont very closely.

Do you think a single-payer system is going to happen in Vermont?  Tell us about it!

Related posts:

1. Do People in Vermont Really Want a Single-Payer Healthcare System?
2. Healthcare Reform: Vermont Proposes Going Single-Payer, But Will It Work?
3. Could a Single-Payer Healthcare System Work in the U.S.? Vermont Could Lead the Way…
4. Vermont Moves One Step Closer to Single-Payer Healthcare System
5. Healthcare Reform: Pre-existing Conditions and the Federal Health Insurance Pool