Schuette Evasive When Questioned About Healthy Michigan

billschuette54-5
billschuette54-5

No direct answer from Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Schuette to a question on the future of Governor Snyder’s Healthy Michigan program if he’s elected. The Medicaid expansion provides health insurance for 680,000 people in the state. At the Oakland County Republican Party headquarters Wednesday, Schuette gave a rambling answer to a yes or no question, saying he prefers a private-sector focus on healthcare instead of expanding Medicaid. He also said children should be able to stay on their parents’ plan until the age of 26 and he favors keeping pre-existing conditions covered.

The Michigan Democratic Party criticized the response, saying it took Schuette 75 seconds to give the answer. They add the Medicaid expansion creates 30,000 jobs a year in the state, and has brought in $150 million in income and sales tax revenue to the state since it went into effect. The legislation creating Healthy Michigan was sponsored by former state Representative Al Pscholka of Stevensville. The program has since been modified to include a work or school requirement for many to receive the benefit.