Group Health Insurance Plan Investigation

Dutchess County lawmakers are going to consider establishing a committee to study options to allow county residents the opportunity to group together to purchase healthcare at a discounted group rate.



Citing a study by the Dyson Foundation and Marist College that found uninsured individuals in one of every four households throughout the Hudson Valley, the county legislature will establish a committee composed of three members of the legislature, a representative from the healthcare community, a representative from the healthcare insurance industry, as well as four residents of Dutchess County, who have experience in the healthcare, insurance, or related fields.



Legislator Marcus Molinaro of Red Hook said the rising cost of healthcare and the inability of so many to adequately access some amount of coverage demands that the county consider the plan.



“The goal here to say that there are people in our county who can’t access health coverage for one reason or another and let’s see if we can, through thoughtful conversation and dialogue find a way to provide them some option,” he said.



Basic insurance costs for individuals range anywhere from $350 and above per month, while a family plan may cost over $1,000 per month and is costly for most residents.



Minority Whip, Sandra Goldberg, of Wappinger, said that, “too any people do not have access to group health insurance coverage and the cost of obtaining coverage on their own is cost prohibitive.”