California Considering A State Health System: SINGLE PAYER!

[Auggie]

Feb 17, 2017 (San Diego) Senate Bill 562 (Californians for a Healthy California Act) were introduced by State Senator Toni Atkins (D-39) and Senator Ricardo Lara (D-33) This bill is one way for the state to deal with the threats to the Affordable Care Act in Washington.

Senator Lara stated that “Healthy California gives everyone insurance because everyone has a right to health care. Trump and the Republicans don’t get to pick the health care winners and losers, and we’ll never get to 100% health care in California unless we lead.”

Senator Atkins said that: “Access to affordable and quality health care is not only critical, it should be a right for everyone in California. In light of threats to the Affordable Care Act, it’s important that we look at all options to maintain and expand access to health care. The Healthy California Act is an essential part of that conversation.”

Healthy California Highlights:

• Every California resident has one plan and more choice. No more plan-switching or guesswork when insurance rates or plans change!

• You pick your doctor, not health insurers!

• Clinicians make decisions about care, not computers!

• By pooling health care funds in a publicly-run fund we get the bargaining power of the seventh largest economy.

• We cut out insurance company waste and duplication!

• No more out of control co-pays and high deductibles!

• Public oversight of costs and care, not decisions made in secret!

• Managing prescription drug costs!

MORE: https://reportingsandiego.com/2017/02/17/california-considering-a-state-health-system/

LINK TO THE ACT: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB562

Put it on your TO DO LIST to call your State Senator Monday in support of SB 562.

WE CAN DO THIS!

[MFM008]

1. kudos

to California.
Always leading the way.
Hopefully Washington State will follow.

[Qutzupalotl]

9. CA, OR, WA would be a strong, diiverse mix of economies

which will have the effect of smoothing out the pool of peaks and valleys and lend overall stability to the marketplace.

I think the reason Vermont couldn't do it is the state is too small, basically Burlington plus a lot of small towns and rural areas. Not nearly the strength California will provide. I wish them success and hope my state will join!

[underpants]

2. Isn't California almost completely Kaiser Permanente?

I used to deal with pharma coverage and KP seems to dominate out west.
Everything's in network -from Dr. To hospital to brick and mortar pharmacy.

[Talk Is Cheap]

3. There is also Anthem and Blue Shield...

Don't know the enrollment stats thou...

[underpants]

6. "The Blues"

That was the nickname for BCBS that I heard when I worked in that industry. I thought it was very clever.

[Talk Is Cheap]

8. I have Anthem in CA. Anthem sucks big time.

The closest dermatologist is 2 hours one way. Doctors are in one year and
out the next.

The health insurance 'industry' is the most disgusting barbaric group around.

[flamingdem]

11. Anthem in LA is a very good deal

with access to all drs at UCLA, guess it depends on location

[YOHABLO]

4. Insurance Co. are ripping us off. Pharma is ripping us off.

The time has come.

[Talk Is Cheap]

5. The often quoted '6th largest economy' - CA could do it!

This is exactly what we need to do. Have CA do the ground work and
set up an awesome system!

[Charles Bukowski]

7. Time to break away from Trumplandia.

I'm all for this.

[Kber]

10. I wonder if out of state students could buy in.

I'm in NJ, but my son attends college in CA. He has coverage through my job, so it's mostly a curiosity question.

It would also be interesting if it could be expanded, state by state. WA and OR now, but in theory could a non-border state opt in to the market too (like VT?)