Last month I alerted you to the introduction of California Senate bill SB 562 that seeks to prohibit all private and public health insurance plans in California and replace them with a single Government-run health plan. Every person living in California will have to give up their existing insurance plan: employer group coverage, Medicare, Medi-Cal/Medicaid, Covered California, private individual and family health plans and all existing government programs. Instead, every person living in California will be required to sign up for the single payer plan.
The Senate Appropriations committee’s own budget analyst has estimated the cost to be $400 billion for just the first year, which is over twice the entire California State budget of $180 billion. SB 562’s sponsors have no clear plan for paying for single payer but have suggested new employer and employee taxes and income tax increases. These taxes would be in addition to current Federal, State, local, municipal and property taxes that Californians pay.
Please see this press release from the California Association of Health Underwriters for more information.
https://bliscorp.egnyte.com/dl/6kk5OkKcvK
I was present in the Senate Chambers when this bill passed the Health Committee with a 5-2 party-line vote on April 26th. I was again present when the Appropriations Committee debated this bill on May 22nd. But despite serious concerns raised by many of the committee members the bill passed with a 5-2 party-line vote. It will now be voted on this week by the full Senate.
TO TAKE ACTION:
If you object to losing your right to Medicare, losing your employer plan, paying more taxes, losing your right to choose your doctor, your hospital and your insurance benefits please contact your State Senator to let him/her know. Click on the link below to find your State Senator and his/her contact information. Then click on the name to reach their website to communicate your message: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
For your convenience, this is a letter template suitable for sending to your district Senator if you so choose:
https://bliscorp.egnyte.com/dl/9IOEU956MF
Phil Lee
925-284-2000
About Phil Lee