The Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform on Monday voted 20-2 to approve a set of recommendations that includes requiring state residents to obtain health insurance or pay a tax penalty, the Denver Post reports. The panel also will recommend expanding eligibility for state health programs. The panel's recommendations will be presented to state lawmakers on Jan. 31, 2008.

The commission reviewed five health care proposals, and the recommendations closely resemble the proposal developed by the panel and are similar to Massachusetts' health insurance law.

The package would cost an estimated $1.1 billion and would expand coverage to 696,000 of the state's 792,000 uninsured residents. Residents would be required to obtain private insurance, unless they qualify for public programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. The state also would provide subsidies to help some residents purchase private insurance, according to the recommendations. The proposal would bar insurers from denying coverage to sick applicants and would require employers to offer pretax plans for employee health coverage.

Gov. Bill Ritter (D) and state Democrats have discussed a tax increase to pay for a health system overhaul (Brown, Denver Post, 11/20).