|
August 28, 2006
Download: Sample letter to Governor Schwarzenegger
A historical day for health care in California
Dear FCL Supporter,
Today is a historic day for the State of California. Just minutes ago, the California Assembly passed Senate Bill 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA), by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), by a vote of 43-30. Today's Assembly vote marks the first time that the California Legislature has passed legislation to create universal health care. Now it's up to Governor Schwarzenegger to decide whether he supports universal health care or supports the status quo.
The U.S. is the only industrialized nation without universal health care despite the fact that we pay more per capita than any other country. California has 6.5 million people with no health insurance. With health care costs rising at five times the rate of inflation, the number is sure to increase as more and more businesses are no longer able to afford the health insurance premiums for their employees. People without health insurance use hospital emergency rooms as their primary care provider. Over 60 emergency rooms have closed in California during the last decade. It is abundantly clear that our patchwork health care "system" cannot be fixed with incremental reforms.
There is a solution:
- By redirecting health care dollars from administration and profits to health care services, all Californians will be afforded health care coverage with a comprehensive benefit package. According to the Lewin Group, a nationally respected health care consulting firm, SB 840 would save $8 billion in health care spending the first year.
- SB 840 is business-friendly. Only those businesses that currently pay nothing for employee health care would see their costs increase and most would realize cost reductions.
- SB 840 is good for doctors and hospitals as they would no longer treat patients without insurance. CHIRA is not government-run health care; rather, it creates an insurance system with full transparency and accountability. Health care delivery would remain private.
TAKE ACTION NOW -- URGE GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER TO SIGN SB 840!
Write letters, send faxes and call Governor Schwarzenegger to let him know that you want a health care system that covers all Californians and ask him to sign SB 840. A sample letter is attached.
Letters should be addressed to:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 445-4633
Phone the governor at (916) 445-2841
Sincerely yours,
Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
Friends Committee on Legislation
717 K St., Suite 500-B
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-3734
Click Here to Donate to the FCL
|
