KPBS Midday Edition

State Of Washington Will Launch Universally Available Health Care Option

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Pat Finn / Producer

Published May 14, 2019 at 9:05 AM PDT

This story was published more than 5 years ago.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signs a measure that puts the state on track to create the first 'public option' health insurance in the US, Monday, May 13, 2019.

Washington state will offer a set of tiered health care plans by 2021 that will cover standard services and are expected to be up to 10% cheaper than comparable private insurance. These state plans will be available to all residents regardless of income.

On Monday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat who is also running for president, signed into law a bill making the state the first to enter the health insurance market with a universally available public option.

Washington residents may choose the public option regardless of their income beginning in 2021.

To ensure that enough people choose the public option to make it work, the state said it will set rates about 10% lower than comparable private insurance.

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Reimbursements to doctors and hospitals will be capped at up to 160% higher than Medicare payouts. These rates are much higher than those found in other states with public options.

California is also looking for ways to expand health care. At his inauguration in January, Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to move California toward a single-payer health care system.

Tom James, a Seattle-based reporter for Associated Press, joins KPBS Midday Edition to discuss Washington's new initiative.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Pat Finn

Pat Finn previously served as a producer for KPBS Midday Edition and KPBS Evening Edition. Finn began her career in broadcasting at KTLA and KCET in Los Angeles. In 1979 she became KPBS’ Public Information Director, then Director of Advertising and Promotion, Program Director, and Director of Broadcasting. She oversaw the station’s local and national productions, including the one-hour documentary Los Romeros: The Royal Family of the Guitar, and Child Protective Services, a one-hour look inside the San Diego County agency responsible for the welfare of at risk children. Both programs also aired on public television stations nationwide. Finn has earned honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

See stories by Pat Finn