Campaign for a Healthy California

For years, many Californians have worked diligently to achieve Single Payer Health Care for all Californians.  In fact, twice our State Assembly and State Senate have passed legislation to institute single payer, only to have the bills vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

The Campaign for a Healthy California has been created to revitalize and reinvigorate the effort to pass this legislation, and it exists as SB 810, authored by Senator Mark Leno (more on the bill in a minute.)  The Campaign is not "brand new".  It is a coalition of organizations, most of which have been working for single payer for years.  Member organizations include: California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Health Professional Student Alliance, California Nurses Association, California OneCare, California School Employee Association, Communication Workers of America District 9, Democracy for America, Health Care for All, Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) - California, Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party, Progressive Democrats of America, and Single Payer Now.

Why Single Payer?  

I could write a treatise on this, but the short version is that:

1. Every Californian is covered,
2. We all have preventive care, so are all healthier,
3. We save huge sums of money by eliminating private insurance company involvement in our health care - including drastically reduced administrative costs, no advertising or junk mail costs, lawyers to fight claims, lobbyists to urge insurance company interests, corporate executive salaries and perks, and PROFIT,
4. Simplicity and economy for health care providers - only one place and one format to send claims

A Few Features of SB 810 as written:

1. Publicly funded
2. Privately delivered - you choose your doctor, hospital, etc.
3. All necessary medical, dental and vision care is covered
4. No deductibles or co-pays

IMPORTANT TO KNOW -
The insurance industry is lobbying furiously to stop this bill.  Their cash cow (our premiums for their coffers) could be gone.  We have a hard fight to pass our bill.