We’re now a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mainers are still hurting. Healthcare costs continue to skyrocket and it's even harder to access than it was before. Currently, one in 12 Mainers lacks health care entirely, and one in five Maine adults can’t afford a $400 emergency.
We have to do better. There are multiple solutions that our leaders can utilize to help solve the dwindling availability of quality, affordable healthcare.
Continuing the Health Insurance Assessment at the state level: If Maine were to reinstate the Health Insurance Assessment at the state level, it could generate more than $30 million in revenue that otherwise would be pocketed by insurance companies. This money can be used for COVID-19 relief.
Creating a statewide Health Care Affordability Board: This board would collect data and diagnose problems in our healthcare system to help us properly fund solutions. This could curb surprise medical bills and make treatment for COVID-19 and other health issues more accessible for lower-income Mainers.
Capping prescription drug prices in Maine: Maine can regulate the cost of life-saving prescription drugs and deter price gouging by Big Pharma to make medication more affordable.
While ongoing vaccine distribution brings us closer to the light at the end of the tunnel, Maine will feel the virus’s impact for years to come. We need to do all we can to make healthcare affordable and accessible for all Mainers in order to meet these challenges.
For more information on these policies, visit our Health Care page.
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