Missouri Health Insurance Gets Needed Change
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About 11% of Missouri's population is unemployed, though for 83% of them one person in the family works either full or part time. Many uninsured have family members who work full time, but still don't have access to medical coverage.
Why are so many workers uninsured? The high costs of insurance premiums have made it nearly impossible for employers to offer Missouri health insurance, or to extend coverage to families. As a result, many hard working individuals aren't received the kind of medical coverage they need, or that their families need.
But bill 818, just passed in the 2007 Legislative Session, may be of help. According to joplinindependent.com, "families will now be able to deduct the costs of health insurance premiums from Missouri income for state tax purposes." Other key aspects of the bill are a tax-free option for employees to pay insurance premiums through cafeteria plans, the expanding of dependent coverage to the age of 26, and expanded opportunities for Missourians defined as "high risk."
Hopefully other states will soon follow this example, making medical coverage everywhere as easy to access as Missouri health insurance.