California: Measure aimed at health coverage (employer health insurance would be mandatory)

Sacramento Bee ^ | Feb 14, 2003 | Aurelio Rojas

[John Jorsett]

Most employers in California would be required to provide health care insurance or contribute to a state health insurance pool under legislation outlined Thursday by state Senate President Pro Tem John Burton. Health care experts say the measure -- sponsored by the state's leading physician and labor groups -- is the most ambitious effort in California in a decade to curb the chronic crisis of the uninsured.

[John Jorsett]

I guess the Democrats aren't done 'improving' California. (We'll know the job is complete when there are no more employers except government.)

[John Jorsett]

ping

[upchuck]

With all due sympathy to my FReeper friends who live there...

One more reason I'm sooooo glad I don't live in Kalifornia.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Geeezz!

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[tubebender]

Burton has time to add bandaids to his version of the good ship UTOPIA but no time to get serious about the deficit. Health insurance is out of control for our family business. It forces us to withhold wage increases so we can cover the premiums as they increase 20 to 30 % per year. Most of the employees would rather have the wages.

[nightdriver]

"I guess the Democrats aren't done 'improving' California. (We'll know the job is complete when there are no more employers except government.)"

This is only the logical conclusion of liberalism - everyone works for the gubmint. It worked so well for Russia, you know.

[Grampa Dave]

I wonder if we can use Burton as a Dumb Bomb in the upcoming war with the Soddomites?

[SSN558]

"I guess the Democrats aren't done 'improving' California. (We'll know the job is complete when there are no more employers except government.)"

When I was living there during the Clinton created defense downsizing recession, CA legislators tried to do just that. A number of them threatened the business community and said,"If CA's employers do not hire more people we will create more government jobs." That's a direct quote.

They made good on the threat too. A lot of the defense techie's I knew went to work for the state in occupations they were completely unqualified for. Government spending increased and marginal businesses left the state or went bankrupt.

[John Jorsett]

Burton has time to add bandaids to his version of the good ship UTOPIA but no time to get serious about the deficit.

With the present situation in state government, the big-spenders realize that there's no money left in government to create the paradise they envision, so they're going to get there by using business as a proxy.

[spectre]

If small businesses are forced to put money into a "pool", the state will "discover" that the "pool" needs twice as much money a few years from now.

This will surely drive small business out of California and the state into insolvency.

Hey, wait a minute - isn't this already....?

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[snopercod]

Actually, this could be a good thing. It would make workmen's compensation insurance unnecessary.

[Hildy]

Wow, that's just what California needs...more companies leaving the State. SELL YOUR HOMES WHILE THE MARKET IS HIGH!

[Lancey Howard]

Haha, why on God's green earth would decent, working human beings want to live in a socialist sewer like California?

[TX Bluebonnet]

Good Lord! Businesses have to pay for health insurance for dependents too? Are they going to cap the number of dependents? People with large families will be unemployable. $200- $300 a month sounds like about what my employer pays for 1 person.

[Amerigomag]

Burton introduced anti business legislation today and increased taxes last week. Today, Angelidies says California doesn't have an economic problem, just a political problem.

These Democratic leaders have lost touch. They are idealogues who know what's best for an ignorant populus.

The redistricting supported by Republicans have insulated these megalomanics from political controls. Term limits (in the case of Burton) have made them immune to public criticism from within the own constitutants.

Short of an armed revolt or a messiah, California is screwed for some time to come.

[Swordmaker]

Just this evening I was reviewing the new "impoved" insurance quote for a friend's dental corporation. He insures seven employees including himself. Employees are covered and dependents can be added if the employee pays the additional cost. Only the dentist and one employee elect to pay for family members out of their own pockets.

This years offer included major increases in co-pays and increases in annual out-of-pocket maximums. The insurance company offered to continue covering this small company with less service, more out of pocket costs... and a whopping big increase in premiums. Last year, the total health insurance costs for seven employees, one family composed spouse and three children, and one family of parent and single child was approximately $36,000.00. This year, for less insurance and higher out of pocket, they wanted about $55,600.00... almost TWENTY GRAND MORE.

Where is the average small (under 10 employee business going to get this kind of income to pay for the Demoncrats "new" benefit???

[Swordmaker]

Actually, this could be a good thing. It would make workmen's compensation insurance unnecessary.

You are absolutely right... companies who have no employees because they are out of business find Worker's Compensation Insurance completely unnecessary.

[Lancey Howard]

These Democratic leaders have lost touch.

They do not appear to have any grasp of the fact that the well has run dry.
It's surreal.

The situation in Kalifornia reminds me of that faced by the white farmers in Zimbabwe - - a lot of decent people there figured, against all logic and reason, that Zimbabwe would come to its senses and would magically turn around. And like the white farmers who stayed around too long in Zimbabwe, many decent people who are still in Kalifornia will stay until it is too late for them and they are wiped out.

It is human nature to remain optimistic, and it is a difficult thing to admit hopelessness, especially for people who have called Kalifornia "home" for their entire lives. Like those white farmers who were in Zimbabwe for generations, making the decision to get out was not easy, and many could not make that decision. And now they are either dead or ruined.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

The only thing I can think of is that the businesses will "offer" insurance but the employees will actually have to pay for it. Where I work (in Arizona), my employer offers health insurance but if I were to accept it my share would be $170 per month for me alone. Let's hope the demonRATS don't get the bright idea that the insurance should be free to the employee.