Cost to insure all Coloradans put at $26 billion

ENGLEWOOD (AP) — A commission appointed by Governor Bill Ritter said Thursday it would cost $26 billion a year to provide health insurance to everyone in Colorado, including an estimated 791,000 who have no coverage.

Supporters of the proposal — called a single-payer plan — said it would save $4 billion a year overall through lower administrative costs, bulk purchases and cost-shifting.

Skeptics said the numbers don’t add up.

The Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform will submit five possible reform plans to Ritter and the Legislature this fall. The commission does not plan to recommend any single plan.

Ritter has promised to make sure all Coloradans have access to

health insurance by 2010.

Besides the single-payer plan, the commission is considering proposals that would:

— Provide a basic benefit package through a large insurance pool with a $50,000 cap on benefits. It would have no mandates.

— Require all Coloradans to have health insurance.

— Place mandates on individuals and employers to provide coverage or pay an assessment.

A fifth plan, which is still being developed, would expand coverage of essential health care services for all Coloradans, with an emphasis on the uninsured and underinsured.

A commission subcommittee developing the fifth proposal has also suggested providing subsidies to individuals and families to buy health insurance.

COMING IN TOMORROW'S GAZETTE

The mother of a convicted murderer all but screamed her belief in her son’s innocence to a judge about to impose a life-without-parole sentence today. But the victim’s family called Joseph Saul Newland a coward and one even hoped he would kill himself in prison. A jury on Tuesday convicted Newland, 20, of first-degree murder during the commission of a felony for shooting Mark McDonald, 44, of Pueblo in the head.

What are the odds Colorado Lottery reported an incorrect number in Wednesday night’s $245 million Powerball drawing? Pretty darn good. In fact, an incorrect Power Play number was transmitted to media statewide and featured on Colorado Lottery’s official Web site until early this morning, when the error was caught.

The trial began this morning in Colorado Springs municipal court for the seven anti-war protesters arrested at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March. A jury of four women and two men — smaller juries hear cases in city court — will decide if the protesters are guilty of blocking a street during the event.

Baby carrots sold at all 10 local King Soopers stores are part of a national recall after four Canadians fell ill with a nasty stomach bug earlier this month. The Los Angeles Salad Co. recalled its Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots brand Wednesday because the vegetables may be contaminated with a bacterial infection. The 7- and 8-ounce bags of carrots all have a sell-by date of Aug. 16.

The Colorado Court of Appeals today re-instated three felony assault charges against a Colorado Springs father accused of stabbing his young children, then himself. The appeals judges ruled 4th Judicial District Judge Edward Colt erred when he consolidated five counts to two. Prosecutors then filed a separate charge for each stab wound inflicted on the children of Matthew Valverde, 45.

The Colorado State Fair opens its gates in Pueblo Friday with 11 days of rodeos, concerts, art shows, demolition derbies, tractor pulls and more. GO! has your guide to the fair food, rides and fun.

An Air Force Academy sergeant sentenced to two years in prison earlier this week for possessing the party drug ecstasy was the top enlisted man in the school’s drug abuse prevention and treatment program, the academy confirmed today. Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Carlson worked in the academy’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program prior to his court martial.

HAPPENING TONIGHT

STEVE MILLER BAND: 7:30 p.m., Red Rocks, Morrison, $49.50-$64.50; 520-9090 or www.ticketmaster.com.

SPORTS TONIGHT

SPORTS COLORADO ROCKIES-PITTSBURGH PIRATES: 1:05 p.m., Coors Field, Denver. Tickets: Online at colorado.rockies.mlb.com or 1-800-388-ROCK.

COLORADO SPRINGS SKY SOX-SALT LAKE BEES: 7:05 p.m., Security Service Field, 4385 Tutt Blvd. Tickets: 591-SOXX or www.skysox.com.