California stands to gain most from health bill

[Elmore Furth]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

The stakes are high for Californians when it comes to the health care overhaul, mainly because the coverage problems in this vast state are so large.

With a new UCLA study estimating that more than 8 million Californians, or nearly 25 percent of the population, lack health coverage, many health experts say California will be impacted more than other states by the reform legislation.

"When this is fully implemented in 2014 or beyond, we will see some two-thirds or more (of the uninsured) getting coverage and, with that, better access to care and more affordable coverage," said Marian Mulkey, senior program officer for the California HealthCare Foundation, an independent philanthropy group based in Oakland.

But not everyone will benefit. Medicare beneficiaries who have certain types of policies may experience disruptions and high-income earners will pay more in taxes. And California will still be left with a large number of uninsured, including illegal immigrants, who either don't qualify for the reforms or are exempted from them.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/03/22/MN0L1CIJ56.DTL#ixzz0iwEVSs0B

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Thank goodness Rush Limbaugh will finally leave the country.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/abraham/detail??blogid=95&entry_id=59627

[heliarc]

1. Now we just have to make sure to win in November... nt

[Xithras]

2. If we can get SB840 passed, it will be a moot point.

It's been past the legislature, but Ahnold won't sign it. Hopefully Brown will be more amenable.

SB840 would establish a statewide single payer plan, ban private insurance outright, and render the federal legislation irrelevant. It would also cover every single Californian, irrespective of their income.

It would be REAL healthcare reform, and not this milquetoast excuse for reform cum corporate welfare that Washington has given us.

[David__77]

3. This has to be fought via proposition or amendment at the polls.

You know it will end up there anyway. Better to fight for it then oppose repealing it I think - I could be wrong though. Banning private insurance isn't going to fly at the polls though, not right now.

[Xithras]

6. Sure it will.

Polling in California has consistently shown that the majority of state voters support single payer. This is California, and not Utah, so the anti-HCR voters are a smaller part of the electorate.

And "banning" private insurance might have been a poor choice of words on my part. Everyone would be covered under the single-payer plan, and be required to pay into it, but there would be nothing stopping those interested from purchasing their own private plans, or stopping employers from offering more comprehensive plans or "expanded coverage" as well.

[David__77]

7. Hmm... we we'd need $50,000,000 for a campaign.

That infrastructure better be in place before hand. Cause we know the opposition will have more than that...

[Xithras]

9. It doesn't need a campaign.

The people of California support the idea in polling, so there isn't going to be a voter backlash. The bill has also passed both houses of the California legislature TWICE since 2006, so there isn't much concern about a fight in Sacramento over it. The only roadblock to getting this implemented has been the governor, who has vetoed the bill both times it was presented to him. While there were more than enough votes to get Single Payer through the legislature, there weren't quite enough to override Gropenfurhers veto.

All California needs is a willing governor.

[tomm2thumbs]

8. helpful info - thanks for posting

[Xipe Totec]

4. Maybe now, finally, Orly Taitz can afford to get some professional help nt

[awoke_in_2003]

10. there isn't enough help

in the world to fix that one.

[Cleita]

5. Also, since California pays and contributes a large amount of taxes to the Federal Government,

I'm glad some of it will benefit the state and its citizens. Why we need the insurance parasites getting their cut is beyond me though. I hope Gov. Brown fixes that.