Eye on the Legislature

S"After the Session"

August 1, 2016

AMENDMENT 69 AND COLORADO

   Now that the political conventions are over and everyone is back home, local issues will not doubt move to the forefront. The opposition to Amendment 69 has a grow list which can be viewed on the ColoradansForColoradans website and is well worth the reader's time.

   Here is one point to be remembered from here on to election day in November, and is a quote directly from the Facts page of the ColoradansForColoradans NoOn69 website:

• All Coloradans will lose their current benefit plan to be replaced by benefits yet to be determined, to be serviced by an entity yet to be identified, to include providers yet to be named.

   In the latest release by NoOn69, the above statement is further emphasized by the following quote from the release:

• No Guarantee for Coverage – One of the most pressing concerns of many Colorado families is the scope of their health insurance coverage, particularly for those who have worked hard to obtain specialized coverage. Coloradans would lose their existing coverage, and then have to hope that the board of trustees decides to replicate that coverage. If not, then they or their employers could attempt to secure specialty coverage in the open market – which will be extremely expensive, if available at all.

   As promised in an earlier column, when credible/new information makes its way onto the political pipeline, it will be included on this website. The explanation provided by the NoOn69 folks on the portion of retirement income subject to the 10 percent tax rate to be imposed if Amendment 69 passes is a bit different than that recently provided to this writer by the ColoradoCareYes Director of Communications:

• NoOn69 explanation:  While a portion of retirement income, Social Security, pensions, annuities and IRA income, is exempt from the new 10 percent non-payroll tax, any amount taxable in the state of Colorado will be subject to the new tax. Coloradans with retirement income of more than $24,000 could be taxed on the incremental amount above $24,000. If you are a Medicare-eligible retiree, you could be paying for health care twice, once through Medicare and again with this 10 percent tax. In that case, Amendment 69 becomes a secondary insurer to Medicare.
• ColoradoCareYes explanation: Retired Coloradans are exempt from a premium tax on the first $33,000 of retirement income (Social Security, pension, etc.) for an individual and the first $60,000 of retirement income for a couple;
• So a couple earning $60,000 in retirement income would receive full coverage under ColoradoCare with no premium tax to pay;
• A couple making $100,000 in retirement income would be exempt on the first $60,000 and would pay 10% of the remaining $40,000, or $4,000/year for Colorado Care as their supplemental coverage; and
• One example of a current Medigap plan with Prescription costs approximately $4,800, giving a savings of $800 under ColoradoCare in that example.

   Readers beware, neither of the above explanations is included in the Proposed Amendment to the Colorado Constitution as of this writing. 

The reader's comments or questions are always welcome. E-mail me at doris@dorisbeaver.com.