Schwarzenegger's individual mandate

In 2007, the leading state in the nation to consider health insurance reform was California. California's Governor proposed that his state follow Massachusetts in mandating that residents buy health insurance. The Legislature's Democratic leadership worked closely with him on his proposal. Like the Massachusetts program, the Governors' plan would also require employers to help pay for health insurance and would look to the federal government for support.

The cost model that the Governor's proposal used was a key part of his political effort to sell his plan. According to the model, the proposed new revenues would cover the proposed new medical coverage. But would the plan really be affordable for many Californians? Would its benefits assure covered Californians access to necessary medical care? Would it adequately protect current state programs aimed at providing access to care? How would it reduce health care cost inflation? How much would it reduce the number of uninsured?

This presentation will report on the outcome of the Governor's proposal, the latest on how much medical care the proposed revenues would cover, the politics behind the resolution to the 2007 California debate, and the implications for the state and for national health policy.