Republicans and Democrats Unite for Health
Schwarzenegger seeks to reshape the landscape of Modern American healthcare.
by Amanda Bartley
Health insurance seems like a big joke these days. But patients and doctors throughout the state are not laughing.
Consumers and advocates for reliable and affordable insurance are stepping up to the plate and making their mark. Michael Moore’s Sicko is one such example. In the film, Moore points out many of the flaws with the current healthcare system and compares it with that of other countries, such as France and the U.K.
If you’ve seen Sicko, you can definitely understand the plight some American’s are facing. Even if you’re not a fan, there is a good chance you might have experienced some flaws associated with insurance companies and coverage plans—or you just plain can’t afford it.
You’re not alone.
It’s interesting that what should be an inherent right—maintaining one’s health and saving lives—has become a privilege that continues to impose debt upon individuals, doctors, and healthcare institutions and hospitals, as well as the state of California.
But there might be an answer on the horizon.
Last year, in conjunction with Democratic State Assembly speaker Fabian Núñez, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a plan that would offer health insurance to all California residents. His plan outlined seven major points which included guaranteeing insurance to all residents regardless of their age or health status. The plan also suggested that both employers and hospitals/doctors would disburse a certain percentage (roughly 2-4%) into a state fund to be used in presenting coverage to California residents. Also, the plan stated that insurance providers would be required to utilize 85% of the premium cost paid by consumers for the treatment and care of those consumers.
Aspects worthy of recognition include:
1. The plan is not a universal health care system or what has come to be known as “socialized health care.” Instead, it is more of a tiered system which the government oversees by setting guidelines.
2. The chief goal of the plan is to redirect the focus of the healthcare system from profit to providing widespread, affordable healthcare to residents of all backgrounds and income brackets, including undocumented workers and illegal immigrants who rely primarily on emergency rooms for treatment and care.
3. Residents can still choose their own provider or opt for their employer’s provider, and the state will help buy coverage for individuals who cannot afford their own or are not eligible for employer-based coverage.
4. The plan should significantly aid the middle class, which continually struggles to pay for coverage as they do not qualify for MediCal but do not have the income that the upper class does. Most notably, in the plan, major state subsidies and tax credits will be employed to assist families within the income range of approximately $42,000 to $ 68,000 per year.
5. The Governor expresses a huge interest in preventive medicine and seeks to “reward healthy lifestyles” and hopes that the plan can “reduce errors” and “enhance care quality and efficiency.”
The Governor urged California to be a model for the rest of the country and suggested that providing insurance to all residents, regardless of their status, would be beneficial not only to residents but also to doctors, hospitals and insurance providers. The goal of the plan, Schwarzenegger stated, is to make insurance “more affordable, more accessible” and “more equitable for everyone.”
For example, doctors who in the past received less than half the payment for treating MediCal patients, would be more fairly compensated via Schwarzenegger’s plan. Hospitals throughout the state that suffer due to unnecessary emergency room costs and a shortage of funds would see a remarkable increase in total revenue and availability of income. Insurance companies would benefit from the plan, too, as they would experience a surge of new consumers.
A year later, however, the plan has still not been approved. Also, while the Governor originally sought to present all residents with insurance, it is expected that the plan will encompass providing most, as opposed to all, residents with coverage.
Nevertheless, it is an inspirational effort—two sides—Democrats and Republicans coming together to achieve a common goal: maintaining the health of the state. Literally. While there is much opposition from both parties, as well as from insurance providers, it is refreshing to see both parties working together, trying to find common ground—which doesn’t occur all that frequently.
While Schwarzenegger and Núñez made headway recently with the State Assembly’s approval of the first phase of the plan, it still needs to be endorsed by the state Senate. When it is passed by the Senate, voters will have the opportunity to either pass or reject the bill: ABX1 1. Should it be approved, it is expected that the plan will be put into effect in 2010.
If approved, this bill will play a major role in reshaping the landscape of modern American healthcare.