The PQB News last week published a commentary (MSP cut should bring a benefit, Thursday, Jan. 4) about how MSP premiums are being cut by 50 per cent (effective Jan. 1, 2018) and that these cuts would be beneficial to many people. However, while unsure how, there will also be some plans put in place to recoup at least some of the lost revenue!
For me personally, the cuts, in and of themselves, won’t make any difference as I am one of the few who don’t have to pay a premium. Now, before you think, “Wow, how lucky,” let me tell you why: my income isn’t high enough to allow me the privilege (and it is a privilege) of paying for my MSP premiums! Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining; I also think it’s great that those premiums are being lowered and thereby definitely benefitting those who do have to pay for their medical service plan.
What does affect me, however, are the possible plans for recouping that lost revenue, one of which will apparently increase the carbon tax on fossil fuels and, thereby, increase the cost of gasoline.
And that I do pay for!
Which, in essence, means that low-income people will now end up paying for something that they haven’t had to pay for because of their income (or lack thereof). As a result, this of course means that while the costs for those with lower incomes go up, the costs for those with higher incomes actually go down because of the cut in MSP premiums!
So I ask, who ultimately ends up paying for this benefit? Those who have the least to gain? Those on low income?
Jan Korvemaker
Parksville