HEALTHY TAX How do you solve the costly and unhealthy problem of the uninsured in Escambia County?
Access Escambia supporters believe one answer is a ½-cent sales tax to provide basic primary care to the working poor, who do not qualify for any other health care assistance.
Four other counties in Florida (Alachua, Gulf, Hillsborough and Polk) have already implemented a similar tax and healthcare program that was rejected by Escambia County voters in November 2004, 74,400 to 60,300.
Healthcare advocates hope this time voters will approve of the tax in a referendum later this year. Recent polling indicates 65 percent of residents, when informed of the issue and program, support it.
But probably the biggest hurdle for the sales tax may not be citizens vote. It may be earning Escambia County Commissioners’ vote to let the people decide the issue in a special election in June. Commissioner must approve a countywide vote that and will consider the issue March 26.
Commissioners are afraid of the T-word, after getting their own 1-cent sales tax renewed last year and failing to roll back property taxes.
David Sjoberg, a Baptist Health Care executive, tells The Buzz the estimated $18 million a year the sales tax would generate is a must. “We’re one of the unhealthiest counties in one of the unhealthiest states. It’s the right thing to do and also it’s an economic issue.â€
Access Escambia points out that 80 percent who are uninsured are employed and the number of uninsured keeps edging up from 1 in 5 residents to 1 in 4. In fact, just in the past two years the figure has gone up by an estimated 12,000 people.
In 2003, about $31.6 million in costs for caring for the uninsured were passed on to the insured, which is about $199 per insured person annually. The cost of a ½-cent sales tax annually? In 2004, Access Escambia estimated it would cost about $48 per person yearly.Currently, many uninsured access healthcare in local emergency rooms, because they know they cannot be turned away, regardless of their ability to pay. However, emergency room visits is costlier than seeing a primary care doctor or going to the public clinic. In addition, those without health insurance often go without care, which can lead to more expensive care later because they develop an even worse condition.
Yes, it’s about hope. It’s about action. It’s about time.