We Can’t Afford to Wait!
Oregonians are working harder and struggling to pay health care costs and make ends meet. Health care costs have more than doubled in recent years while wages are stagnant. Small businesses are the engine of our economy and they need help with providing access to affordable, quality health care. We can’t wait. Now is the time to fix the system so we have quality, affordable health care for all Oregonians.
Health Reform Adds Jobs to Oregon’s Economy
Each dollar in the provider tax being discussed will be matched with more than $2.00 in federal Medicaid funds. Oregon’s economy will benefit, as we bring in more than a billion dollars in new federal funds into Oregon’s economy – creating more than 4,000 new jobs, protecting thousands of existing jobs and providing new services in our local communities.
Oregon Can’t Afford the High Cost of Doing Nothing
One out of every six Oregonians is currently uninsured and that number is rising. The cost of uncompensated care to the uninsured increases the cost of health care and insurance premiums for all Oregonians. It would be more cost effective if everyone had affordable coverage and preventive care. The current path is not sustainable and we’re all paying the price.
Time for Solutions
The Oregon Health Fund Board spent the last two years working with Oregonians from across the state – listening, identifying the problems, exploring solutions, and coming up with a set of comprehensive recommendations. Now is the time for Oregon to start down the path of comprehensive health reform, so that we can work together to implement efficient, effective and fair solutions.
Protect Oregonians from skyrocketing health care costs.
Rising health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs are hammering Oregon families and businesses. A recent study found that without health reform, the average family insurance premium will more than double by 2016, to over $27,000 per year. The Oregon Health Fund Board recommendations focusing on increasing efficiency have the potential to cut $10 billion in health care costs over 10 years.
