Historic California Health Reform Gets Hearing Today

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Consumer and Community Advocates Argue Against Sinking Status Quo; Support AB X1 1

By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California

On the day of an crucial hearing at the Senate Health Committee, many consumer and community advocacy groups urged for the passage of AB x1 1 (Nunez), that would secure or expand coverage to over 95% of California consumers.

This reform not only extends coverage to the vast majority of the uninsured, but provides assistance and assurance to millions of Californians with coverage, who are concerned it's not going to be there for them when they need it. This reform doesn't solve all the problems in our health system, but it fixes many of them, and provides a platform from which we can address the rest.

The reform proposal to be heard in the Senate Health Committee will provide significant help to not just low-income and uninsured Californians, but for families up and down the income scale, and for those insured, whether on the job, through a public program, or as a purchaser on the individual market.

For a full description of the help that different categories of Californians get, visit the Health Access California analysis.

It's rare that a reform in any area aspires to benefit such a wide cross-section of California. The alternative is the rapidly-eroding health care status quo, and that's simply not acceptable, as Californians see employers dropping coverage, insurers denying coverage, and budget committees cutting coverage. The Senate should keep in mind that many will lose their coverage without this reform.

Health Access California is a statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition of over 200 groups.