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.

Colorado’s proposed system, if approved in November, would take effect in 2019. All the details haven’t been worked out yet, and its chance of success at the polls is by no means assured. Still, the state has taken action on other issues, such as the legalization of marijuana, that many thought would never happen there. The measure won enough signatures to secure a place on the ballot, and the rest is up to voters.

Insurers and others are firmly opposed, and considering the fact that the system would have a budget larger than Colorado’s state government, it’s liable to be a hard sell. Still, Colorado’s experiences with the Affordable Care Act were less than optimal, including massive premiums for people in towns that had few providers and the shutdown of its largest cooperative, Colorado HealthOP, which left more than 80,000 people hunting for new coverage.

The health care industry isn’t behind the effort. It remains to be seen whether voters will be.

Instant Insights /

Universal health care could bump Obamacare in Colorado

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