With the return of the legislature after their summer recess this week, the focus has been first on passing the state budget - which appears now to be done.  Debate around the issue of health care insurance coverage can now begin in earnest.  There are those in Sacramento who feel the legislature won't get to the health care coverage legislation this year.  Others however, feel the Governor still wants to pass health care reform in California THIS year, and may be willing to work out some kind of compromise bill with the Democratic majority, if it appears the Republican minority poses any kind of stumbling block.  As this session ends September 15th, there isn't a lot of time left, so whatever decisions are to be made, they will likely happen quickly and the deal making will be fast and furious as we near a deadline.  So, where are we in all of this?

There has been a feeling this Spring, for the first time, that there is a real chance that "some" form of a health care coverage bill would pass this year.  Numerous coaltions of organizations lobbying to pass such legislation have been working hard, and, of course, the health care industry including insurance companies have been lobbying actively to protect their interests as they perceive them.  That lobbying sector has considerably more funds than those coalitions representing the interests of working artists, so it is critically important that working artists register with their elected state assemblyman and / or woman, and their state senator that first they want passage of health care coverage reform THIS year, and second, tell their legislator(s) what provisions they would like to see included in a final bill. 

Please click here to communicate with your state legislators (Assembly & Senate) about this issue - http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2447/t/1486/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=11956

The best thing you can do is to call their local offices and try to set up an appointment with them when they are back in their local offices (usually every Friday), and go in with a couple of other people and talk to them about what a comprehensive health care coverage bill should (from your perspective) include.  If you can't do that, write them a letter.  Next best is a fax, then an email (which you can do by clicking the above link), then signing a petition.  But communicate your position somehow and do it soon.  Tell everyone you know to do the same thing.  Please, it will make a difference.

Here’s what AB 8 currently includes that’s of value for self-employed artists and small nonprofit performance based arts companies.

• Enables all employers and employees to get coverage through a new state insurance pool. Small employers would be able to cover all their workers for just 7.5% of payroll, about half what it currently costs, with much less hassle, and employees would be able to get coverage for a contribution of just 5% of their income.  This provision alone will arguably cover 2/3 of California’s uninsured.

• Ensures that self-employed people could no longer be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition.

• Caps insurance company profits and overhead at 15 cents out of every premium dollar, to ensure that at least 85% of premium dollars are spent on delivering health services. 

• Provides coverage to all children and most parents in families up to 300% of the poverty level (under $62,000 for a family of 4) by expanding public programs.

 

Here's what a number of health care coalitions believe still needs work about AB 8:

• Not enough protection for self-employed individuals against high costs. AB 8 provides affordability protections for people up to 300% of FPL  (under $31,000 a year for a single person) whose employers provide them coverage through the statewide pool, but not for anyone else.  In the Bay Area, where incomes and housing costs are higher than the state average, many self-  employed artists could make more than $31,000 a year and find themselves unable to afford good coverage.  

 • Not enough oversight over insurance companies.  Currently, insurance companies can raise rates as much as they want and the state can do nothing. Some health coalitions want to require insurance companies to petition the state if they want to raise rates above a certain level (say five or 10 percent), and justify why they need the increase.

• No control over prescription drug prices. Neither plan uses our combined purchasing power to get a better deal on prescription drug prices.  If the state had the power to purchase drugs in bulk, it could take advantage of California’s enormous market weight as a way to help leverage costs lower, thus making prescription drugs more affordable.

• Not enough information for consumers. Neither plan requires doctors & hospitals to be up front about their prices and their success rates, so consumers can choose the best value. Please share any comments, thoughts or ideas you have by scrolling down and clicking on the comment line, then entering your comment.  Thank you.

Have a great week.

Don't Quit. (this line has become a personal signature and comes from a Winston Churchill story. Glad to share it if you email me).

Barry