LANSING – State Rep. Andy Dillon (D-Redford) today praised the House Insurance Committee for approving a bill he is sponsoring that aims to reduce the cost of health-care for residents and businesses alike. Dillon's plan passed the committee with strong bipartisan support.
"Health-care costs are getting out of hand and my plan gives Michigan a way to keep costs under control," Dillon said. "I applaud my colleagues on the Insurance Committee for acting quickly on this plan."
House Bill 5387 creates a task force to study the benefits of a statewide catastrophic health-care coverage pool for every citizen in Michigan. The task force will study how coverage will be funded and relies on the private sector to administer it. Dillon's plan passed the House Insurance Committee, chaired by Rep. Joe Hune, with overwhelming bipartisan support.
"Currently, employers with a large number of employees or dependents with catastrophic illnesses are stuck in a system that offers them little or no flexibility. No one wants their business, so they have to accept the huge increases their insurers pass on to them," Dillon said.
"Taxpayers are already picking up the tab for the uninsured and underinsured. This program would give us a uniform and efficient plan to deal with catastrophic illness. Studying the benefits of a statewide pool for catastrophic health coverage is a common-sense plan that's going to help Michigan workers and businesses."
The plan seeks to streamline the process by which Michigan provides coverage for residents with catastrophic
illnesses.