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June 24, 1999

It's About Access, Stupid

Cost Estimates of "KennedyCare"

-- Nationwide and Selected States--

By shedding a patient protection already available under current law, Democrats have trimmed the cost of Senator Kennedy's managed care bill (S. 6/S. 1256). The bill will now increase private health insurance premiums a mere 4.8 percent above inflation [Congressional Budget Office]. But is this really the minor increase Democrats claim?

Data from the Barents Group, an economic consulting firm, reveal the effects of a 4.8- percent increase:

higher health care costs, lower wages, fewer jobs, and less coverage.

Canceling coverage leaves patients exposed to expensive medical bills. That's not patient protection. It's patient abuse.

Impact of the Kennedy Managed Care Bill (S. 6/S. 1256)

	Lost wages per household (1999)	Jobs lost (by 2003)	Additional uninsured (1999)
Nationwide	$163	152,700	1.5 million
Arizona	$131	n/a	26,900
California	$182	17,600	214,000
Colorado	$160	2,400	25,500
Delaware	$186	n/a	3,900
Florida	$140	11,700	83,900
Georgia	$166	5,000	39,100
Illinois	$163	6,300	70,100
	Lost wages per household (1999)	Jobs lost (by 2003)	Additional uninsured (1999)
Iowa	$120	n/a	13,800
Kentucky	$149	n/a	23,700
Maryland	$179	n/a	35,400
Massachusetts	$204	n/a	34,400
Michigan	$157	n/a	46,300
Minnesota	$142	n/a	28,600
Missouri	$156	3,800	35,900
Nevada	$119	n/a	12,200
New Hampshire	$151	n/a	4,900
New Jersey	$195	3,800	47,900
New Mexico	$130	n/a	8,100
New York	$212	8,600	92,900
North Carolina	$137	4,300	33,800
Ohio	$167	7,400	65,200
Oklahoma	$118	1,800	18,100
Oregon	$126	n/a	22,500
Pennsylvania	$183	5,900	58,000
Rhode Island	$152	n/a	6,200
South Carolina	$164	n/a	19,300
Tennessee	$85	n/a	16,400
Texas	$157	10,600	97,300
Vermont	$107	n/a	1,500
Virginia	$153	n/a	34,700
Washington	$141	4,000	39,700
Wisconsin	$151	n/a	33,500

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