Vermont Considers Single-Payer Health Insurance

05:18

February 17, 2011

Gov. Peter Shumlin, center, holds a news conference on Jan. 18 to discuss support for Vermont's health reform efforts. Shumlin was joined by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., left, Sen. Patrick Leahy and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch. (AP) — Gov. Peter Shumlin, center, holds a news conference on Jan. 18 to discuss support for Vermont's health reform efforts. Shumlin was joined by Sen. Bernie Sanders, left, Sen. Patrick Leahy and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch. (AP)

While Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is hoping to change the way insurance companies pay health care providers by 2014, his counterpart in Vermont is hoping to achieve something much more dramatic by then.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin wants to introduce a single-payer health care system in the Green Mountain State, like the systems in place in Canada and Britain.

Vermont lawmakers are debating the measure now. Vermont Public Radio's Bob Kinzel reports from Montpelier.

This segment aired on February 17, 2011.