Posted by gromit on August 22, 2005, at 21:12:47
In reply to California Single-payer bill, posted by Abby on August 22, 2005, at 0:50:30
> I was just wondering how many people here are from California. I wondered what Californians had heard about SB 840. Insurance coverage is a big issue for a lot of people with mental illness. If you lose a job, there's the awfulness of dealing with pre-existing conditions. COBRA and insurance changes are a real hassle. I would love to have seamless coverage not tied to my employment. I think I'd probably support the bill if I were a Californian.
>
> Thoughts from those in the State?First off, COBRA may be a hassle but it's a small step in the right direction. This is the first I'd heard of this bill. I didn't actually read the whole thing but reading an analysis these 2 things caught my eye.
2)Requires the Agency to be independent, generally not subject
to review by any other agency, and under the control of a new
Health Insurance Commissioner (Commissioner). Designates the
Agency as the single state agency with full power to supervise
every phase of the administration of CHIS.Not subject to review by another agency, don't like the smell of that at all. And geez, we already have an Insurance Commissioner, now we get a Health Insurance Commissioner as well?
3)Prohibits any health care service plan or health insurance
policy, except for CHIS, from being sold in California for
services provided by CHIS.Ok, deal breaker right there if I read it correctly. If the thing turns out to be **** then I can't even buy better coverage out of my own pocket? Everybody would have the same probably at best mediocre plan? It may be an attempt to shift some of the cost of insurance off employers and onto us, but I'm kind of cynical.
I have yet to read anything positive about healthcare in the UK or Canada on this board. In fact I know 2 different families who moved to the US mostly to get away from socialized medicine. It's hard to say what would happen, it could be reasonably well run and fair, it could also turn out to be like the DMV though. Now serving M-968...
Rick
poster:gromit
thread:545049
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050728/msgs/545367.html