New Haven:  Days after John DeStefano - Democratic candidate for governor – unveiled Connecticut CAN! (Cover All Now), his universal health care plan, advocates, activists, and residents from across the state are starting to weigh in on the historic proposal.

The nonpartisan Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut released a statement commending DeStefano, “… for introducing a substantive and comprehensive health care reform proposal into the campaign and informing the public debate.” Foundation president Juan A. Figueroa, added, “… the DeStefano plan comes at a good time in the public health care discussion. His proposal is definitely a step in the right direction in the discussion in our state.”

The DeStefano campaign has also heard from dozens of advocates who have offered valuable input and asked important questions about how Connecticut CAN! can best serve all of the state’s residents. John DeStefano believes it’s important to clarify some aspects of the plan and address the three most frequently asked questions.

1)      How would Connecticut CAN! affect businesses?

First, no one argues the current system is good for business. According to the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), “Health care costs have risen so steeply for so long that they are becoming unaffordable for many employers and their employees. The crisis is a major barrier to job growth and business expansion.”

DeStefano’s plan offers a better way. Large businesses that offer health care to their employees will see their 7.5 percent corporate income tax cut in half and small and medium-sized businesses would pay no corporate income tax. The only businesses which would pay more are businesses which offer no health care to their employees – driving up the cost for everyone else.

DeStefano’s health care proposal would help both small and large businesses by offering generous targeted tax benefits, prevention bonuses and better coverage for a healthier and more productive workforce. Massachusetts – which consistently outpaces Connecticut in job growth - just enacted a similar plan – passed by a Democratic controlled legislature and signed by a Republican governor.

2)      Will the DeStefano health care plan cover services already mandated by Connecticut law?

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Yes. DeStefano supports all existing mandates and as governor would veto any health care bill that does not include them. According to the principles defined in DeStefano’s plan, all currently mandated services would be covered. It’s important to note that in the current ad hoc health care system, mandates are necessary to fix inequities and inconsistencies in services covered by insurance companies. Under the DeStefano plan, a set of principles (see plan) would guide coverage and the old patchwork framework of mandates would be replaced. But make no mistake, every health care plan offered under Connecticut CAN! would include all services currently mandated by state law.
3)      How long before Connecticut CAN! could be implemented?
As governor, John DeStefano would make universal health care the top priority of his first legislative session in 2007. Gov. Rell’s campaign has said the idea of universal health care is “absurd” and Dannel Malloy has said it “doesn’t make sense to me.” But DeStefano believes all families in Connecticut deserve access to affordable health care – and will make it happen within a few months after taking office.