Benefits August 4, 2003

California Legislature Seeks Unified Health-Care Bill

August 4, 2003 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A new conference committee in the California legislature has been charged with drafting a compromise bill of four different health-care proposals in an effort to expand coverage to uninsured residents.
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Members of the state’s legislature are concerned that unless provisions of the four separate bills are unified, fracturing among the voting delegates will result in no health-care bill going through for the legislature’s approval by the time it adjourns in September, according to a Sacramento Biz Journal report.

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However, the committee is not working from scratch. Among the four bills that will be used as a basis for the compromise legislation:

  • SB 2 – would require employers to provide health benefits to workers and their dependents or pay into a state fund as part of a public-private financing system for expanded health care coverage (See CA State Senator Wants Workers To Have Insurance ).
  • AB 1527 – similar to SB 2, but initially exempts small employers.
  • AB 1528 – uses the same approach as SB 2, but would require individuals without insurance to buy it. In addition, it establishes a government subsidy program for individuals and small employers who cannot afford it (See Universal Healthcare in California Proposed ).
  • SB 921 – establishes a “single payer” state-run insurance program to replace existing coverage.

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