Scott Kirksey's blog

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled Healthy People 2020, which identifies the nation’s 10-year goals for promoting health and preventing disease.

This program, and its associated educational materials, can serve as a helpful resource to brokers and agents as they provide support to their clients.  While most insurance coverage is still geared to treating individuals when they get sick, identifying resources to promote a healthier lifestyle is an important goal for everyone, no matter what age or type of insurance coverage they have.     

One of the biggest obstacles with obtaining health care was the limited access that people with pre-existing conditions had to health care coverage.  A new plan – the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan – was launched this summer as part of the Affordable Care Act. It’s meant to provide access to health care for those denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

To meet the criteria, a person must have problems getting health insurance because of a medical condition and have been uninsured for at least six months.

When putting together this plan, government economists predicted 375,000 people would enroll and gain coverage this year alone. They questioned if the $5 billion allotted for this program would be sufficient.

It turns out it’s more than sufficient.

In a surprise vote last Tuesday, Missouri voters came out to vote for Proposition C, a ballot referendum that aims at nullifying a key component of the new federal healthcare law that individuals be required to purchase health insurance.  An overwhelming majority – 71 percent – of voters approved this referendum.

The referendum was intended to nullify the section of the law requiring individuals to obtain health insurance or face a tax penalty. Supporters hope it will send a strong signal to Washington that the federal government shouldn’t dictate people’s health care choices.

There was virtually no mention of Proposition C before Tuesday’s election. Even though a majority of voters approved the referendum, just a small fraction of Missouri residents were out voting that day.