Health Care Freedom on CO Ballot

by Kristina Rasmussen Following in Missouri’s footsteps, a new citizens amendment has qualified for the Colorado ballot this fall. Colorado’s “Right to Health Care Choice” amendment — also known as Amendment 63 — would: Write into the Colorado Constitution that the State of Colorado cannot force its citizens to purchase a public or private health insurance product, either...

by Kristina Rasmussen

Following in Missouri’s footsteps, a new citizens amendment has qualified for the Colorado ballot this fall. Colorado’s “Right to Health Care Choice” amendment — also known as Amendment 63 — would:

Write into the Colorado Constitution that the State of Colorado cannot force its citizens to purchase a public or private health insurance product, either on its own, or on behalf of the federal government. In other words, Colorado would not be able to implement a Massachusetts-style insurance mandate (otherwise know as Romney Care).

The amendment would also constitutionally protect fee-for-service health care by ensuring the right to pay out of pocket for health care services and products if you so choose. This means even if Colorado were to implement a single payer heath care system, you would be free to engage in voluntary exchange with a health care provider outside the system.

Over 130,000 signatures were submitted to qualify the Right to Health Care Choice amendment for the ballot — way more than the 76,000 signatures needed. Clearly, there’s a strong desired for patient-centered — as opposed to government-centered — health care solutions.