Health Initiative Questions & Answers

Today more than 9000 kids can’t see a doctor in Portland. They are our neighbors, our relatives, the classmates of our sons and daughters. They’re the kids of hard-working parents whose employers don’t provide health-care and whose modest income makes them ineligible for Medicaid and the Oregon Health Plan. They’re the unprotected kids in our community who are falling through the cracks

We believe that every child deserves access to a good doctor. Our initiative will provide low-cost, quality medical coverage for all the children of Portland public schools. With the city of Portland projecting a budget surplus of $39 million, we have the resources to do it. Further, the $4 million annual cost can be offset by the $7,000 the city gets from the state of Oregon for every new student who enrolls in a Portland public school. This means no new taxes are required to put this critical plan into action.

What is the Initiative?

This is an initiative filed for the City of Portland to provide health insurance to uninsured children in Portland.

When is this happening?

We need to collect 27,000 signatures by the end of June to put this on the November, 2008 ballot. If approved it would take effect February 1, 2009.

Who would be affected?

The measure would provide low cost health insurance to approximately 9000 currently uninsured children attending public schools in Portland. Insurance would be provided by existing private insurers after competitive bidding.

Are new taxes being asked for?

No new taxes are requested or needed for the measure. The estimated $4.05 million annual cost would be paid for the first two years out of the City of Portland’s expected $33 plus million surplus. Starting in the third year, each school district in Portland would pay for 66% of their students’ costs. The under $500 cost per student will be covered by attracting more students to the district with the promise of health insurance. Each new student enrolled in a school district brings in about $6500-7000 more dollars from the State of Oregon. Thus, the program should be largely self funding.

Is this an unfunded mandate? `

Are school districts locked into this program?

No. Each school district could choose not to offer the program after the first two years if it proves too costly. Moreover, the measure is funded by attracting more of the tax dollars that Portland currently sends to the State by attracting more families to settle in Portland and to send their kids to the public schools.

Wouldn’t this measure cause more families to choose to live in the City of Portland?

This is one of the goals of the initiative. Portland needs to have families and children as part of its mix in order to remain a diverse and vibrant city. The Portland schools need to continue to serve the needs of the vast majority of the city’s children in order to continue to receive the financial support of the city’s population.

What about children outside of Portland or outside of the Portland schools

We don’t claim that this solves the needs of all children in Oregon. While we believe that everyone should have health insurance in the state and throughout the United States, we are trying to make a difference at a level where we can have an impact.

Is a more ideal plan possible?

Yes. We believe that this is something that is doable now while a larger solution is being worked on.

How can I help?

We are pursuing signature gathering both by a volunteer effort and by hiring paid signature gatherers. Volunteers are needed both to gather signatures and to help with the other details of the campaign; financial contributions are very needed to pay for the paid signature gathering. Contributions should be made to WhyNotPortland, our campaign committee.

Where can I get a copy of the initiative?

The text of the initiative is available at our website, www.whynotportland.org.