[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By State Senator Sheila Kuehl

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The California Field Poll just released a 39 page survey that should provide ammunition for those who want to reform the state’s health care/health insurance system. As is usual, the devil is in the details—and there are lot here—for proponents of various programs to crow about and spin.

One thing comes through loud and clear: California voters are concerned about California’s failure to enact health care reform this year. They are very concerned about their own status—losing health care coverage, being unable to pay medical bills, employers cutting back the amount they pay for health insurance, and cancellations by insurance carriers because of health conditions. And, in response to a number of separate questions, they overwhelmingly support reforms, including requiring health insurance companies to offer coverage without regard to health conditions, extending health insurance to Californians who do not have it, and other reforms. They expect the current system to worsen in the next 5 years.

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

With the budget resolution, the clock starts for the rest of the legislative session in Sacramento.  The Assembly and the Senate have until September 14th to pass bills before them and send them to the Governor's desk for signature.  And obviously the centerpiece of the session is health care reform.  AB8 will be the organ for Democratic legislative leaders and the Governor to come to an understanding about how they want to fix the state's health care crisis.  And the people are weighing in and saying that their preferred solution has a different bill number; SB 840.

Over...

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The Field Poll results released today show a dramatic increase in support amongst California voters for replacing the current health system in the state with a government-run system covering all Californians.

36% of California voters support a new government run system--like Medicare--up from 24% in last December's survey. At the same time support for making "reforms with the framework of the current health insurance system, with shared responsibilities by government and individuals" has dropped from 52% to 33%. Reliance on "free market competition to improve the health insurance system" draws only 14%, down from 18% previously.

So, the approach of SB 840 (Kuehl) now has a plurality of support in California, although within the margin of error of this survey--4.5 percent. What is most significant is the trend in this poll. Support for making changes within the current insurance framework has dropped 19 points while single payor has increased by 12 points.

Overall 69% of California voters want changes and only 14% see free market competition as the model.