Editor:

In a guest commentary by Hadley Heath Manning published by The Colorado Statesman earlier this month, she states: “According to the state government, a single-payer healthcare system would cost about $25 billion annually, effectively doubling the state budget, and increasing payroll taxes by 10 percent.”

First: She writes that this is “a single-payer healthcare system.” ColoradoCare is not a single-payer healthcare system. Medicare payments will stay the same and Medicaid recipients will won’t pay more than currently. With ColoradoCare, the current confusing, profit-oriented payment system of multiple insurance companies deciding on payment and treatment issues will be replaced by a simple, efficient payment system — a cooperative nonprofit owned by Coloradans via their elected board of directors.

Second: She writes that this will “cost about $25 billion annually.” Currently in Colorado we pay over $30 billion for health care via premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copays. So, in effect, ColoradoCare will cost less and will cover everyone in the state.

Third: She writes that ColoradoCare would result in “effectively doubling the state budget.” Premiums will be collected through a payroll tax, but the program will be administered by an elected board — not by the state. This is a plan developed in Colorado by Coloradans. It will take government and the insurance companies out of the picture and put the patient and the doctor in charge – the very patient-centered model Ms. Manning advocates.

The facts are: ColoradoCare is the answer to our healthcare problems in Colorado. Now is the time — let’s pass ColoradoCare.

Joseph RogersDenver