The idea of universal health care is growing in popularity. A number of Democratic presidential candidates have endorsed the concept. And next month, a universal health care bill will be reintroduced in the California Legislature. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
The California bill would create a single non-profit health insurance plan to cover everyone in the state. To fund it, businesses would face a payroll tax. Individuals would pay a small percentage of their wages. The measure would eliminate private health insurance and its premiums.
Rose Ann De Moro directs the California Nurses Association. She says a single-payer system is a good idea.
De Moro: You’re not paying for health insurance anymore, you’re paying for health services. So it’s going directly to the providers. The state then, is negotiating with the hospitals, with the doctors, in terms of what are realistic fees.
De Moro says the state would save billions of dollars on insurance company overhead.
Governor Schwarzenegger doesn’t like idea. He vetoed a similar measure last year. Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
