Newark Rep. John John Kowalko again introduced a bill calling for a single-payer health care system that would be financed by all taxpayers, with an extra bite coming from wealthy Delawareans.
The bill would create the Delaware Health Security Authority. The authority will be governed by a 15-member Delaware Health Security Board comprised as follows: the Secretary of Health And Social Services, two members from both the State House of Representatives and State Senate Committees concerned with health care issues, five members from state health professional organizations, and five members from eligible consumer organizations in our state.
According to a synopsis, single-payer would provide provide comprehensive health care coverage to all Delawareans without any extra health insurance or out-of-pocket- expense and reduce waste from paperworks and other features of the current system.
The system would be financed by all state and federal funds available for health and health care costs in Delaware as well as:
– Employer and employee graduated payroll tax from 4 percent for employers with less than ten employees to 9 percent for employers with 50 or more employees;
– A Health Security tax of 2.5 percent on net taxable income (after deductions) for all heads of households and persons subject to Delaware’s income tax; and an additional Health Security income surtax on net taxable income of 2.5 percent for persons filing a Delaware income tax return in excess of $250,000.
– Married couples filing a joint Delaware income tax return shall pay an additional income surtax of 2.5 percent on net taxable income in excess of $500,000.
The legislation is not given much chance of passage as the state prepares for the Affordable Care Act and before a legislature reluctant to levy more taxes. However, it is expected to rally critics of the Affordable Care Act, who believe single-payer is the next step.
Click here for a link to the copy of the bill.
