44-5302.

Legislative findings and declarations.

The Legislature finds and declares that there is a significant number of Nebraskans who lack health insurance and that these uninsured people include many individuals and families who cannot afford the rising cost of medical care but do not qualify for the various income-based assistance programs. The lack of financial means of uninsured people and families to pay for their medical care leaves health care providers with uncollectible debts which are transferred to other patients and to insurers. It is the purpose and intent of the Legislature to provide a mechanism to allow insurers to provide basic levels of health insurance to those people who are uninsured and are not qualified for income-based assistance programs.