BEFORE Guam decided to "opt out" like CNMI and other states (on Obamacare) have done, and since GovGuam has received more than $1 million from the federal government to study the impact of setting up the requirements of Obamacare, I would strongly recommend that a public hearing be held to determine whether GovGuam should opt out or in – with a complete rationale publicly justified.
As predicted, Republican governors from several states have already decided to "opt out," citing increasing costs of Medicaid due to "non-affordability," but they did cite solutions which Guam could also cite. For instance, patients must be able to choose their health insurance providers (Guam people do not have this luxury); people should be allowed to "buy health insurance products 'across states/territorial lines'" (Guam has a very restrictive and prohibitive licensing process- discouraging other health insurance providers from coming to Guam); and all health insurance providers should be provided "tax breaks or qualifying certificates" (GEDA should be able to provide, if they are politically motivated).
Question:
How was the $1 million expended?
Will the local laws be amended to allow people to buy health insurance across territorial lines?
Will GEDA be required to issue qualifying tax certificates?
The real question:
"Is there a political will to do the above, over purely 'local/monopolistic' and vested interests???"
Joe T. San Agustin,
Chairman,
GovGuam Retirement Fund
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Letter to the Editor 
What will Guam do about Obamacare?
What will Guam do about Obamacare?
What will Guam do about Obamacare?
- Monday, 09 Jul 2012 03:30am
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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