Lembo Tries To Renew Connecticut Debate Over Health Insurance Public Option
HARTFORD, CT With 800,000 Connecticut residents at risk of losing their health insurance if the American Health Care Act becomes law, state Comptroller Kevin Lembo says expanding Medicare and creating a public health insurance option would help ensure people continue to have coverage.
In letters sent Wednesday to U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, Lembo urged expanding Medicare, which is typically available to individuals once they turn 65, include those at least 55 and then offer an option for all people regardless of age to buy into the program as well.
I believe a Medicare option for all would be the most ideal solution, he wrote. However, at a minimum, a Medicare buy-in option for Americans from at least age 55 is essential to ensuring people continue to have access to quality and affordable health care coverage.
Making Medicare available to people who are at least 55, he said, would lower costs for people who buy insurance through the state individual market and also lower the average cost of Medicare by adding younger participants to its pool.
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