Dylan’s view’s on

HEALTHCARE

Healthcare for Colorado’s Working Families: Practical Solutions, Not Politics

Problem: Colorado’s 8th District families pay $7,911/year per person for healthcare yet:

  • 41% of Coloradans skip care due to costs 13.

  • Medical debt forces 1 in 5 Coloradans to cut spending on food/essentials 115.

Debunking Myths: Facts Over Fear

Myth 1: "Universal Healthcare Is Too Expensive"

Reality: We already pay more for worse outcomes.

  • U.S. spends $4.5T/year on healthcare—80% driven by inflated hospital/doctor fees, not patient volume 123.

  • Single-payer would save $458B/year by:

    • Negotiating drug prices (e.g., insulin: $300 U.S. vs. $30 Canada) 910.

    • Slashing administrative waste (U.S. overhead: 12.4% vs. Medicare’s 2.2%) 912.

  • Colorado impact: Employers in Greeley/Fort Lupton pay $22,000/year for family premiums. Under single-payer, this drops to $5,000–$7,000 via payroll taxes—saving businesses $15,000+ 93.

Counterargument Rebuttal:
"Taxes will skyrocket!"


✅ False: Eliminating premiums/deductibles means 95% of households save money—even with a 4% income tax on earnings >$29k Example:

  • Fort Lupton construction worker: Saves $3,200/year after taxes replace premiums.

Myth 2: "Wait Times Will Soar & Quality Will Drop"

Reality:

  • U.S. already has longer waits than Canada for specialists (42 days vs. 27) 14.

  • Medicare patients report higher satisfaction than private insurance users 913.

  • Veterans in Loveland fiercely defend VA care—a government-run system 9.

Counterargument Rebuttal:
"It’s socialist!"


✅ False: Police, roads, and the military are government-run—no one calls them "socialist."
✅ Single-payer is pro-freedom: No job lock, no surprise bills, no networks.

Myth 3: "Why Should I Pay for Others?"

Reality:

  • You already do. Hospitals shift unpaid ER bills to premiums, costing families $1,400 extra/year.

  • Small businesses suffer: 60% of bankruptcies are medical-related. Universal coverage frees entrepreneurs to innovate 910.

Counterargument Rebuttal:
"Illegal immigrants will abuse the system!"


✅ Data shows: Immigrants contribute 16% of transit ridership and pay taxes—strengthening funding pools. Universal systems cover residents, not tourists.

A Colorado Solution: Pragmatic Steps Forward

1. Start with a Colorado Public Option

  • Allow small businesses to buy into state Medicaid plans at negotiated rates.

2. Cap Drug Prices & Hospital Profits

  • Model after Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board to slash insulin costs.

  • Stop price-gouging: Appendectomies vary from $9,332–$33,250 nationally with no outcome difference.

3. Invest in Preventive Care

  • Target chronic diseases: Diabetes/hypertension cost Coloradans $2,000+/year extra.

  • Fund community health centers in Thornton/Evans for free screenings, cutting ER overuse.

The Bottom Line

Universal healthcare isn’t about ideology—it’s fiscal responsibility:

  • Saves $458B/year nationally 9.

  • Lowers suicide rates by guaranteeing mental healthcare 4.

  • Prevents 68,000 deaths/year from delayed treatment 9.

For Colorado’s 8th District, this means:
✅ Keep I-25 open with healthier truckers.
✅ Protect family farms from medical bankruptcy.
✅ Cut local taxes by reducing county indigent care costs.

Sources Cited: Commonwealth Fund, KFF, Lancet, CDC, HealthSystemTracker

Let’s build a system where healthcare isn’t a privilege—it’s a promise.