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Kate Ende, policy director at Consumers for Affordable Health Care, understands the draw of alternative models.
“Premiums are exceptionally high right now, and it can put coverage out of reach for a lot of people,” she said.
Ende recently testified in the state legislature in support of a bill that would have capped medical costs. For example, a 64-year-old couple living in Aroostook County earning $85,000 annually would have to pay half their income for a plan through the health insurance marketplace, she said.
Four in 10 Maine households have gone into medical debt within the last two years, according to a Consumers for Affordable Health Care survey. Three of four had insurance at the time.
.... according to Maine Consumers for Affordable Health Care, nearly half of all Maine households incurred medical debt in the last two years, and one out of three people reported that medical debt hurt their ability to pay for basic necessities like food and heat. We've got to do a lot more to bring down the cost of health care in this country -- but in Maine, we're not waiting for the federal government to act.
"Medical debt, unfortunately, is something Mainers continue to struggle with. We applaud Senator Bailey's leadership on this issue and the Governor signing these important consumer protections into law," said Ann Woloson, Executive Director of Maine Consumers for Affordable Health Care. "Nearly half of Maine families have medical debt and far too many Maine families are having to make tough decisions about paying for the health care they need or putting food on the table, gas in their car or paying their rent. By signing this bill into law, Governor Mills is easing the mind of Mainers who will no long have to worry about losing their homes or having their wages garnished due to medical debt."
