Some Utah legislators concerned that Healthy Utah may be unsustainable

A new poll shows strong support for Gov. Gary Herbert's "Healthy Utah" plan to help thousands of people gain access to affordable health insurance. Photo credit: Utah Governor's Office.

State Senator Lyle Hillyard is one lawmaker who is not certain right now if he can support Governor Gary Herbert’s Healthy Utah proposal. The Republican lawmaker says it’s a no-brainer if you just look at what’s happening today but he says what concerns him is the question of sustainability.

Hillyard says one senator has a bill that would sunset the bill in three years to see just how much it is costing.

“All of our staff, even the governor’s staff, would admit that it’s hard to predict because of what is called the Woodward Affect,” explains Hillyard. “What happens in many states when they adopt a plan, they count on so many people being in the category to qualify for it.

“But many employers are terminating their health insurance, sending their employees into this plan. So rather than having 50,000-60,000 people you now have 300,000. That is really making all of our financial predictions off base.”

Hillyard says his concern is that it might start costing $70 million and down the road lo and behold it’s actually costing $300 million which would be much more difficult to sustain.

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