The notion has been gaining traction across the country — maybe not with politicians, but with the general public. In Colorado, the idea of universal health care may become a reality if voters in November like the idea.

According to The New York Times, the creation of a public health system that would cover everyone in the state will cost around $38 billion per year, if the referendum succeeds, and would boldly go where Obamacare does not. No deductibles, no networks, and no insurance companies: the measure would be paid for by a 10 percent tax increase on payrolls and incomes.

While higher taxes aren’t popular, and Colorado isn’t known for favoring government intervention, people are even less pleased with the way the current system works. Gaps in coverage allow people to fall through the cracks, and people still pay enough in premiums and deductibles to threaten their financial health — not to mention how they might fare in the face of a serious illness or accident. A universal system could address all these issues and more.