With the new administration looking to get rid of Obamacare, and everything else that is going on with healthcare, California is looking for an entirely new solution to the problem. In response to all the concerns regarding healthcare, there is a new proposal making the rounds in Sacramento that seems to be gaining momentum. Single payer healthcare has come to the forefront recently.
The proposal to adopt single payer healthcare took a step forward recently as the state Senate approved the bare-bones bill that lacks a method for paying the $400-billion cost of the plan. Legislators led by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) are responsible for the proposal that has been put forth at a time when the Trump administration is busy trying to repeal Obamacare.
“Despite the incredible progress California has made, millions still do not have access to health insurance and millions more cannot afford the high deductibles and co-pays, and they often forgo care,” Lara said during a floor debate on the bill.
The next step for the bill is now to go to the state Assembly for consideration. Lara conceded that the bill will have to be further developed as it takes the next step.
Single payer healthcare would do away with the need for healthcare insurance for Californians as the state would be responsible for providing healthcare for its estimated 31 million in population. The coverage would include even those which are in the state illegally.
Given a little thought some of the major problems with this proposal become clear. How much is this going to cost and how is it going to be paid for? The initial cost estimates come in at around $400 billion annually with as of yet, no answer as to how it would be paid. Of course, raising the money in the form of new taxes would be the first method considered to pay for the new healthcare system. Additional new taxes may not go over so well with Californians who are already among the highest taxed citizens in the country.
