CJ of Randolph, ME I worked in insurance in the late 80's when health insurance was still a free market and cheap. I cannot tell you how many times I would answer a call and walk into a smoke filled potential customer's home to be told they had a "touch of emphasema." Of course, they would become outraged at the prospect of a rated policy because they refused to take of themselves. Real life example: A healthy person could buy the equivalent of COBRA coverage with no prescription coverage for up to 18 months through Golden Rule for the princely sum of $30 mo. in 1988. Kill this Dirigo dog and let the market allow conscientious working people to insure themselves and their families.report abuse

M. Smith of Richmond, ME Did anyone miss the part about "double dipping here in order to fund the black hole known as Dirigo Health:

"Under the law, the Dirigo program would derive its funding from those taxes(beverage tax)and a fee collected on insurance claims."

Just who do you think will be paying that "fee".

Would it be those of us already paying for our health care? Why yes of course but that is a "fee" and not a tax.

Now isn't the idea here to punish those of us who indulge ourselves on beer, wine, and carbonated drinks because of the health problems those products subject us to? Is the Maine Legislature also punishing those of us who pay for our own health care because that too is also somehow harmful to us?

The beverage lobby did not have to help me with my signature that day at the voting booth.report abuse

Steph Barrett of Belgrade, ME I'm so tired of hearing the healthcare side portraying me as anti-family, anti-child, and anti-healthcare. For me, this debate has absolutely nothing to do with Dirigo and everything to do with a significant new tax and the way it was implemented.

It's a targeted tax. Targeted at everything but milk, pure fruit juice, water, and micro brewed beer. What? Isn't this a tax on beer and wine? Only the big brewers and vinters. It's not across the board and it's sure as heck not above board.

If our legislature really, truly believes in Dirigo (when did we go from 14,000 participants to 50,000?) then there would be a more comprehensive, less hinky way to finance it. Public programs for the general population should be funded across the board by the general population.

We'll not even begin to talk about our very good not-for-profit health insurer located in this state till a few years back when our legislature decided it was in our best interests to sell it to anthem.report abuse

Joe Schmoe of Augusta, ME JEH of Augusta, ME
Watch for TABOR II my friend. We were stupid. We really believed it when the legislators promised us no new taxes. Man, were we duped. Not again bro.....report abuse