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Local residents working to promote universal health careDaily IndependentBY RUTH JUSTIS - Staff Reporter - rjustis@ridgecrestca.com
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Daily Independent photo by Ruth Justis Mary Lewis, left, and Linda Bozack, right, have formed a Ridgecrest chapter of the OneCareNow organization, which is working for a statewide universal health care plan. |
In February 2007, Senator Sheila Kuehl introduced Senate Bill 840 to the California legislature. SB 840, billed as universal health care, proposes a single payer statewide insurance system to cover all primary care, dental, vision, mental health, prescriptions, medical equipment, hospital, hospice care, emergencies, and more. SB 840 passed the Senate Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee by 7 to 4, on a straight party-line vote, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing.
Proponents say SB 840 would provide affordable healthcare for all Californians, including those who are not working, are attending school or have a pre-existing condition. Approximately 6.5 million Californians, who do not have insurance, would be covered by the plan, but would also pay into the system. Covering these uninsured residents would hopefully curtail the use of hospital emergency rooms as primary care doctors.
The system would be funded from several sources, including federal and state funds already going to health care, premiums paid by employees in proportion to their income, and employer premiums in proportion to their payrolls. All claims would be paid from one statewide non-profit trust fund. Patients could choose the physician of their choice.
Proponents have formed an organization — OneCareNow — with a Web site, onecarenow.org, which has more details on the plan.
Two local residents, Mary Lewis and Linda Bozack, recently established a Ridgecrest chapter of OneCareNow and are eager to share their enthusiasm for the plan.
“More people paying into the plan makes it affordable for everyone. And by putting all of the funds, including Medicare and MediCal, into one pot, most of the administrative paperwork is eliminated. Currently 25 to 30 percent of all healthcare funds go to administration,” Bozack said.
With SB 840, employees would pay 3 to 4 percent and employers would contribute 8 or 9 percent — based on payroll figures. Many individuals could actually pay less for insurance. Those with the lowest income would be exempt and a cap at the top would cut off payments at a certain level.
“This is not socialized medicine — all providers (physicians) are in the private sector. It just pays the doctors from one inclusive fund, which would be overseen by a board of health care providers. We believe the doctors would be paid in a more timely manner with this plan, which calls for compensation within 30 days,” Bozack said.
Opponents to the plan include the Chamber of Commerce, HealthNet, the California Medical Association, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, American Health Insurance Plans, and many insurance companies.
For more information on SB 840, visit the onecarenow.org Web site or call 446-3107.
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