Health Policy

With more uninsured Americans than any state in the nation, California begins a debate about health-care reform. Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced a dramatic and detailed plan with potential appeal to both Republicans and Democrats.

Its a big plan with big goals: to bring the state's 6.5 million uninsured citizens into the health-care system...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday proposed a sweeping overhaul of the way health care is purchased and delivered in California that would mandate new contributions from employers, individuals, health plans, health care providers and the government...

The governor's proposal would shift costs so the insured are not paying higher premiums to offset the costs of treating uninsured patients who flood emergency rooms when they get sick. Those costs boost premiums for the insured as much as 10 percent, according to health care studies.

(SACRAMENTO – January 8, 2007) – Given the complexity of California and the reach of this health care proposal, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered a vision that represents a giant step toward the resolution of a problem that has vexed America’s policymakers for years.

ARNOLD Schwarzenegger used to be compared to Ronald Reagan, another Hollywood actor who starred on the political stage in Sacramento. Lately, Schwarzenegger's enthusiasm for bond issues and freeways has been more reminiscent of Pat Brown, the builder-governor who preceded Reagan. But on Monday, when Gov. Schwarzenegger unveils his ballyhooed plan to provide health insurance for 6.5 million uninsured Californians, he will invite comparison to the legendary Gov.

Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking to redirect billions of dollars now spent to treat people without health insurance to purchase coverage for the uninsured, according to sources who have seen a recent version of the governor's health care plan expected to be released Monday.

The governor's plan, which continues to be revised and reconsidered, would move up to $2 billion in tax money that now goes to hospitals to help cover indigent care and use it to buy insurance for part of the uninsured population.

Imagine a restaurant in which the maitre d' asked each patron to show a credit card before being seated. Those with a card would be seated, served and then given a bill for the cost of their meal. Those without a credit card would be fed for free.

How long would it take for the paying customers to figure out that they were paying not just for the cost of their own food, but also indirectly for the free food served to others?...

SACRAMENTO - As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger puts the final touches on his proposal to revamp the state's ailing health care system, a new statewide poll suggests that only a bare majority of California voters are satisfied with the current system, and a large majority worry about what the future might bring...

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to build public support for his eagerly awaited health care overhaul, he turned to a study by the New America Foundation.

The report, released recently by the nonpartisan [New America Foundation], concluded that the average family in California pays a $1,200 "hidden tax" to subsidize health care for the uninsured.

What is the most pressing problem facing the economy? A good case can be made for the developing health care crisis. Soaring costs, growing ranks of uninsured and a steady erosion of corporate health benefits add up to a giant drag on the nation’s future prosperity.

(WASHINGTON, DC) At an event today with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the New America Foundation released a report highlighting the hidden costs that all Californians pay due to the large number of those with little or no health care insurance coverage. Governor Schwarzenegger toured the emergency room at the California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles to highlight the hidden costs of the 6.5 million Californians without health care insurance.