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Public Policy Initiatives 2008 - Iowa
While high cost of coverage and relatively low incomes
of many Iowans remain as significant barriers for access to health insurance,
variations exist among the many segments of the uninsured population.
Wellmark continues to emphasize strategies and options targeted at the
specific segments within
Iowa’s uninsured population, based upon current and reliable data concerning
these uninsured.
Initiatives
Reduce the Number of Uninsured
- Support federal reauthorization and incremental expansion of the
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
- Support targeted tax incentives and other subsidy programs (e.g.
state-sponsored reinsurance mechanism, premium assistance) to enable
broader access to private health insurance.
- Support increased access for children (to age 19) via expansion
of coverage and funding of SCHIP.
- Support expanded Medicaid eligibility and funding for low-income
adults under new benefit options with cost sharing (based on income
level).
- Support proposals to allow carriers to offer lower cost, mandate
free benefit policies as additional options in the market.
- Support proposals from the Iowa health care reform commission that
are targeted to reduce the number of uninsured in Iowa.
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