Schwarzenegger: Everyone must have health insurance

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 8 January 2007 | Steven Harmon

[CounterCounterCulture]

Schwarzenegger: Everyone must have health insurance

GOVERNOR UNVEILS PLAN TO OVERHAUL HEALTH CARE

By Steven Harmon
MediaNew Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a sweeping $12 billion health care plan today that would require all Califonrians to have health insurance.

In remarks that he delivered by video conference from Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger insisted covering all Californians was the key to lowering the exploding costs of health care.

``We pay higher deductibles, higher cost for treatment, higher premiums and higher co-pays,'' he said. ``Prices for health care and insurance are rising twice as fast as inflation, twice as fast as wages. That is a terrible drain on everyone and it is a drain on our economy. My solution is that everyone in California must have insurance. If you can't afford it, the state will help you buy it, but you must be insured.''

Among the highlights: The governor would require employers to provide insurance or pay into a state fund that would help people buy their own insurance; he would require insurers to cover everyone, regardless of medical condition; he would require 85 percent of insurance premiums be spent on patient care; he would substantially increase the MediCal reimbursement for doctors.

He acknowledged how controversial his proposal to cover illegal immigrants is, but said it was better than the alternative -- paying for their expensive stays in emergency rooms.

[CounterCounterCulture]

My solution is that everyone in California must have insurance. If you can't afford it, the state will help you buy it, but you must be insured.''

Of course his "solution" doesn't attack the root causes. His "solution" only invites bigger and more coersive government. That's our Gubby!

[BMIC]

Schwarzenegger's requirement means that people from other states, having been diagnosed with a serious and expensive illness, will flock to California to get covered.

Oh! Glad you pointed that out! Will definitely have to keep that in mind in case I come down with anything serious one day!

[2ndDivisionVet]

Will 2008 see a Hillary/Arnold "National Unity Party" ticket?

[microgood]

So now that the Republican Party has become the Democratic Party, what has the Democratic party become? It must be time for a new party for what used to be Republicans.

[Republicus2001]

The California GOP has been dufusized for years - methinks too close to the Magic Kingdom ...

[calcowgirl]

During the financing portion of the presentation by the Govs staff, they said it was assumed that the largest part of funding ($5 Billion) would come from medicare.

What a coincidence that Uncle Teddy is working to make that happen:

KENNEDY TO PROPOSE MEDICARE FOR ALL

[rottndog]

He acknowledged how controversial his proposal to cover illegal immigrants is, but said it was better than the alternative -- paying for their expensive stays in emergency rooms.

Let him keep saying that after millions more illegals keep running across the border for yet more handouts.

Arnie is not now, nor has he ever been, in any way conservative. He sets a new standard for RINOs. I hope all those people who poo-pooed McClintock are happy.

[AmericaUnited]

In remarks that he delivered by video conference from Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger insisted covering all Californians was the key to lowering the exploding costs of health care.

YOU FLAMING IDIOT!@!! Forcing everyone to buy ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS jacks up the price.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

These politicians and has-been actors need to let the friggin free market work. Cut people's taxes and get the government out of healthcare, and people will find a way to pay for health insurance or risk bleeding to death. AAARRRGHHH

[Mojave]

This is exactly the kind of thing that California Republicans were warned about during the recall election and they said that we didn't know what we were talking about.

I wonder what talking points his defenders will use for this?

[RobRoy]

>>Everyone must have health insurance<<

Since when?

[Sunsong]

So if he is going to *socialize* health care and control insurance - won't insurance companies take their business to other states where a freer market reigns?

[GSWarrior]

Someone should create a "Don't Blame Me, I Voted for McClintock" graphic to post on these Arnold threads.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

``We pay higher deductibles, higher cost for treatment, higher premiums and higher co-pays,'' he said. ``Prices for health care and insurance are rising twice as fast as inflation, twice as fast as wages. That is a terrible drain on everyone and it is a drain on our economy. My solution is that everyone in California must have insurance. If you can't afford it, the state will help you buy it, but you must be insured.''

______________________________________
How will this solve the problem of high cost? These people are just not living in the real world. Everyone does deserve healthcare when it is truly needed....but this is not the answer.

[chiller]

I'm for the free market system, with individuals making their own buying choices, with no health insurance, no company health benefits, no nothing, but this is what Mitt Romney did in Massachusetts.

Supposedly they found that the number of uninsured there was costing them billions and billions , much more than the MA plan that was implemented. I'd like to see those final numbers, though.

[Afronaut]

"Someone should create a "Don't Blame Me, I Voted for McClintock" graphic to post on these Arnold threads."

Here I saved this one...

[LiveFree99]

Never mind Hillary, that socialist phony Mitt Romney pushed for and got a mandatory health insurance law in Massachusetts. If he becomes president, look for the same plan to go national.

[CounterCounterCulture]

I whipped up a new sticker since I couldn't find the old ones...

And in a show of "bipartisanship," here's Arnold and one of his friends Garamendi...

I should do a new one with Arnold and his newest butt-buddy Fabian Nunez.

[P-Marlowe]

Universal Health Care for illegal aliens, courtesy of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

They already have it, courtesy of GWB, the Republican Congress... They go into the emergency room, give a phony name, get treatment and are never prosecuted for fraud.

Frankly I wish they were insured. Then they'd have to go to a doctor to get treatment and this would free up the emergency rooms for things like.... emergencies.

Something needs to be done. This may not be it, but it is something.

[Mojave]

It's something alright. Maybe Arnold could also put billboards up on our southern border saying "Come and get it!"