Kentucky Candidates Differ On Expanding Family Health Insurance Coverage

The Louisville Courier-Journal on Tuesday examined health care proposals from Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Steve Beshear (D) and incumbent Gov Family Health Insurance. Ernie Fletcher (R). According to the Courier-Journal, Fletcher and Beshear agree on some health care issues but have different approaches to one pressing problem -- extending health coverage to more than half a million residents who lack it Family Health Insurance.

Fletcher, noting that three-quarters of the state's uninsured work for small businesses Family Health Insurance, has said he would expand the ICARE program his administration established to help small employers pay for workers' coverage.

The program currently covers more than 1,500 people in businesses with 25 or fewer employees, but Fletcher would expand eligibility to employers with 50 or fewer workers. He also has proposed establishing ICARE 4 Kids, which would expand KCHIP, the state's version of SCHIP,Family Health Insurance to subsidize premiums so families of small-business workers could purchase coverage through ICARE.

Both candidates support prevention efforts to help lower health care costs.Family Health Insurance In addition, both candidates oppose raising cigarette taxes to pay for their respective expansions. Health reform advocates say Beshear's overall proposals for cutting the ranks of the uninsured are more comprehensive, Family Health Insurance but they credit Fletcher for keeping many from losing health coverage through his management of Medicaid,