California health insurance plans have become an issue recently
for two main reasons: an increased number of uninsured individuals
and new proposals for changing the current California health insurance
system dramatically.
California Health Insurance: Not Reaching Everyone
While the number of individuals without health insurance has grown
everywhere in the United States, California's numbers are significantly
higher. According to the California
Health Care Chartbook, CA health insurance plans didn't cover
18% of the state's population in 2002. Furthermore, 20% of the state's
elderly population is not covered by any type of California health
insurance.
Part of the reason for California's numbers was its large immigrant
population. Twenty-seven percent of California's population is made
up of immigrants and 52% of these individuals who have been in the
state under 5 years have no insurance coverage. Even after living
in California for more than 5 years, a significant portion, 40%,
still don't have health care.
Children under the age of 18 were the least likely to be uninsured.
However, the majority of those children will be left without health
insurance once they turn 18 because they will no longer be eligible
for Medicaid or because they may no longer be covered by their parents'
health insurance plan. As a result, they will likely end up uninsured
eventually.
An Alternative to Current California Health Insurance Plans
In May, 2005, a new proposal based in the California Senate which
may provide an answer to the problems with California health insurance.
Known as the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, the new
bill would guarantee health insurance coverage for every person
in California.
The current California health insurance method would be replaced
by a single-payer system with one non-profit insurance plan available.
California residents would be able to go to any doctor they choose
and all of their necessary medical treatments would be covered.
There would be no deductibles or our-of-pocket expenses for anyone.
You can learn more about this bill and its potential impact on
California, and perhaps the rest of the United States, by visiting
HealthCareForAll.org.
Other California Health Insurance Information
